Atlascopcosaurus

Atlascopcosaurus is a genus of herbivorous dinosaur that roamed the Earth during the Early Cretaceous period. Fossils of this dinosaur have been discovered in Victoria, Australia, specifically within the Eumeralla Formation. While much of its skeleton remains unknown, paleontological inferences suggest it was a small, bipedal herbivore.

Discovery and Naming

The type specimen of Atlascopcosaurus was unearthed in 1984 at the Dinosaur Cove East site. The holotype consists of a partial upper jaw, a maxilla with teeth, and other referred specimens include teeth, another maxilla, and dentaries. The genus, Atlascopcosaurus, was formally named and described by Tom Rich and Patricia Vickers-Rich in 1989. The generic name is a tribute to the Atlas Copco Company, which supplied equipment crucial for the excavation that led to its discovery. The specific name, loadsi, was chosen to honor William Loads, the state manager for Atlas Copco who provided assistance during the dig.

Physical Characteristics and Classification

By extrapolating from closely related species, it is estimated that Atlascopcosaurus loadsi measured approximately two to three meters in length and weighed around 125 kilograms. Initially assigned to the Hypsilophodontidae family by its describers, this classification has since been debated. Subsequent cladistic studies have questioned the validity of Hypsilophodontidae as a monophyletic group. Some researchers have considered Atlascopcosaurus a nomen dubium due to the limited and non-species-specific nature of its dental and maxillary fossils, noting similarities with Patagonian elasmarians like Anabisetia and Gasparinisaura. However, other analyses have maintained the genus as valid, placing it as a basal member of Ornithopoda, within a clade that includes Anabisetia, Gasparinisaura, and Qantassaurus, and also as a basal member of Iguanodontia.