Name:
Anabisetia
(After the archaeologist Ana Maria Biset).
Phonetic: Ah-nah-bis- et-e-ah.
Named By: Rodolfo Coria & Jorge Calvo -
2002.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Ornithischia, Ornithopoda, Iguanodontia.
Species: A. saldiviai
(type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: About 2 meters long.
Known locations: Argentina - Cerro Lisandro
Formation.
Time period: Cenomanian to Turonian of the
Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial remains of four
individuals.
A
possible close relative of Gasparinisaura,
Anabisetia
was a fairly
small ornithopod dinosaur that roamed around what would become South
America during the early stages of the late Cretaceous. Anabisetia
is
known mostly from the partial post cranial remains of four specimens
and a single partial brain case and lower jaw. The lack of a more
complete skull means that it is hard to establish both the head
features and a more precise relationship to Gasparinisaura.
How
Anabisetia relates to other ornithopods is still
uncertain, partly
because of the uncertainty regarding Gasparinisaura
at the time of
writing. Gasparinisaura was once thought to
represent a more basal
iguanodont, but later analysis now suggests that it was closer to
more advanced forms like Thescelosaurus from North
America. If
correct, then Anabisetia would follow Gasparinisaura
by its close
association.
Possible
predators of Anabisetia could have included
abelisaurids,
remains of
which have been recovered from the same formation as Anabisetia.
Possible further threats may have included carcharodontosaurids
such
as Mapusaurus
which were alive and roaming around in other parts of
Argentina during these stages of the Cretaceous.
Further reading
- A new iguanodontian ornithopod from Neuquen Basin, Patagonia,
Argentina - Rodolfo Coria & Jorge Calvo - 2002.
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