Crichtonsaurus

Abstract: Ankylosaurs are a major group of ornithischians with broad and low bodies, distributed mainly in Asia and North America. They are most identified by their dermal armor. The earliest ankylosaurs are Scellidosaurus and Bienosaurus from the Early Jurassic (Liassic Stage) of England and China (Romer, 1968; Dong, 2001).\;A new genus and species of Thyreophora (Ankylosauria)- Crichtonsaurus bohlini gen. et sp. nov., is described in this paper. The generic name is dedicated to Mr. Michael Crichton, author of the book "Jurassic Park". Dinosaurs became one of the most popular scientific subject due to this book. The specific name is dedicated to Dr. B. Bohlin, a well-known Swedish collector of vertebrate fossil including several ankylosaurs along the Silk Road, Northwestern China.\;The specimens came from the Sunjiawan Formation of Beipiao Basin, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The newly found ankylosaur fossil supports the Late Cretaceous age of this unit (Cenomanian-Turonian). The materials contain a fragment of left mandible bearing three teeth (IVPP V 12745); two cervical vertebrae, a complete dorsal (IVPP V 12746); four sacral and caudal vertebrae, complete scapula, coracoid, humerus, and femur, as well as various plates and scutes of dermal armor (LPM 101). LPM is the abbreviation of the Paleontology Museum of Liaoning .\; Crichtonsaurus is a medium-sized ankylosaur, 3 meters in length on the basis length of vertebrae. The mandible is thin and without outer surface ornamentation. The teeth are small, and typically ankylosaurid in shape. The crown of each tooth is symmetrical with 4 or 5 marginal denticles. The cingulum is strong on the base of crown. Small ridges are found on flatter side of the crown. The centra of cervical vertebrae are short and amphicoelous. The centra of dorsal vertebrae are amphiplatyan, with upward-pointing diapophyses. The centra of anterior caudal vertebrae are broad and comparatively short with long transverse processes. The scapula and coracoid are not fused together as a scapulocoracoid. Dermal plates, scutes, and spikes vary in size and form.

Abstract: Crichtonsaurus 的新 ankylosaurid 种， C。benxiensis sp。nov，基于一架很好保存的骨骼和在 Sunjiawan 形成(Cenomanian Turonian ) 发现的一个将近完全的颅骨被树立， Beipiao，辽宁省。Crichtonsaurus benxiensis sp。nov。被颅骨，对在轨道和 squamosal 角之间的槽口中间的定位的深消沉，枕骨的过程熔化了到 quadrates 的同等，熔化肩板和鸟喙骨的宽度84.6%长度描绘，为在上鸟喙骨神经的一个大孔进入鸟喙骨并且从肩板外面退出。基于新标本， Crichtonsaurus 被分到 Ankylosauridae。