Albalophosaurus
Name:
Albalophosaurus
(white crest).
Phonetic: Al-bal-o-foe-sore-us.
Named By: T. Ohashi & P. M. Barrett
- 2009.
Classification: Chordata, Dinosauria,
Ornithischia, Marginocephalia, Ceratopsia.
Species: A. yamaguchiorum
(type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Unknown due to lack of remains.
Known locations: Japan, Ishikawa Prefecture -
Kuwajima Formation.
Time period: Valanginian/Hauterivian of the
Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial cranial remains and
left mandible (lower jaw).
Albalophosaurus
has been described as a basal ceratopsian
dinosaur, but one that
shows similarities to other ornithopod dinosaurs, particularly in
dental morphology. This may suggest that Albalophosaurus
was a
particularly primitive ceratopsian dinosaur, perhaps even one that
hints at the transition from ornithopod ancestors to more derived
ceratopsian descendants. The name Albalophosaurus
means ‘white
crest’, but this is in reference to the snow-capped peak of Mount
Hakusan near where the holotype remains were discovered, not a
physical feature.
So
far Japan has been quite light in terms of fossil discoveries, which
is surprising considering that hundreds are known from mainland
Asia, but steadily, palaeontologists working in Japan are
uncovering more and more Mesozoic reptiles. Other dinosaurs
discovered in Japan include Fukuiraptor
and Fukuisaurus.
Further reading
- A new ornithischian dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Kuwajima
Formation of Japan, T. Ohashi & P. M. Barrett -
2009.
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