Stellasaurus
Name:
Stellasaurus
(star lizard).
Phonetic: Stel-lah-sor-us.
Named By: John P. Wilson, Michael J. Ryan
& Davis C. Evans - 2020.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Ornithischia, Ceratopsidae, Centrosaurinae.
Species: S. ancellae (type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Unknown due to lack of remains.
Known locations: USA, Montana - Two Medicine
Formation.
Time period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial parietal bar of the
neck frill with partial horns.
With
holotype
fossils initially described as specimens of Rubeosaurus,
Stellasaurus is a genus of centrosaurine ceratopsian
dinosaur that
lived in North America during the late Cretaceous. Although little
fossil material exists of Stellasaurus at the time
of writing, the
dinosaur has been reconstructing as having two large upwards pointing
spikes rising from the back of the neck frill. Two smaller spikes
rose up at slight angles outwards either side of the two central
spikes. These created a star shape which was the inspiration of the
name Stellasaurus. Stellasaurus
is also a homage to the song
‘Starman’ by David Bowie.
Further reading
- A new, transitional
centrosaurine ceratopsid from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine
Formation of Montana and the evolution of the 'Styracosaurus-line'
dinosaurs. - Royal Society Open Publishing. 7 (4). -
John P. Wilson, Michael J. Ryan & Davis C. Evans
-
2020.
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