Newly Discovered Ankylosaur Species

marco_polo

A new species of ankylosaur discovered in central Montana, dating from the early Cretaceous about 112 million years ago has been described by paleontologists. This seems to be a transitional species between other known Jurassic and Late Cretaceous ankylosaur specimens.

Interestingly the discoverer is a teacher from Wales, who also is a freelance dinosaur illustrator, so is another major find for amateur fossil hunters (Well maybe semi - pro at best ).

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091030125046.htm

"This is the first member of Ankylosauridae to be found within the Early Cretaceous Cloverly Geologic Formation," said Bill Parsons, who characterized the fossil as a transitional evolutionary form between the earlier Jurassic ankylosaurs and the better known Late Cretaceous ankylosaurs.

The skull is heavily protected by two sets of lateral horns, two thick domes at the back, and smaller thickenings around the nasal region. "Heavy ornamentation and horn-like plates would have covered most of the dorsal surface of this dinosaur" said Bill Parsons.

Also: http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_articles/tatankacephalus_cooneyorum_new_ankylosaur_dinosaur_species_discovery

Galvasean

Tatankacephalus cooneyorum
Illustration by William Parsons