Koparion

Koe-pah-re-on.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Koparion ‭(‬After an ancient version of a scalpel‭).

Phonetic

Koe-pah-re-on.

Named By

D.‭ ‬J.‭ ‬Chure‭ ‬-‭ ‬1994.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Theropoda,‭ ‬Coelurosauria,‭ ‬Troodontidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

K.‭ ‬douglassi‭

Size

Unavailable due to incomplete remains.

Known locations

USA,‭ ‬Utah‭ ‬-‭ ‬Morrison Formation.

Time Period

Kimmeridgian of the Jurassic.

Fossil representation

Teeth.

In Depth

       The name Koparion is based upon the comparison of the serrated teeth‭ (‬currently the only known parts of this dinosaur‭) ‬to ancient versions of scalpels.‭ ‬Despite the lack of overall remains,‭ ‬Koparion is widely regarded as being a troodontid and if this is correct,‭ ‬it would be one of the if not the oldest troodontid currently known.‭ ‬There is counter speculation however that the Koparion teeth may be those of a different kind of dinosaur.‭

Further Reading

– Koparion douglassi, a new dinosaur from the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Dinosaur National Monument; the oldest troodontid (Theropoda: Maniraptora). – Brigham Young University Geology Studies 40:11-15. – D. J. Chure – 1994.

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