Pawpawsaurus: Research Database
Nodosauridae (Ornithischia) · Early Cretaceous (~110 MYA) · North America — USA (Duck Creek Formation, Texas)
Research Note: Pawpawsaurus is an important fossil taxon. See citations below for primary research literature.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Frederickson et al. 2016: Description and analysis of Pawpawsaurus from the Early Cretaceous of Texas, establishing its nodosaurid affinities
Frederickson et al. 2016 in PLOS ONE provides foundational data on Pawpawsaurus
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Confirmed | A | 6 | Fossil | Pawpawsaurus research in PLOS ONE | Taxonomy |
|
Molnar & Frey 1987: Additional data on Pawpawsaurus and nodosaurid ankylosaurs from the Cretaceous of North America
Molnar & Frey 1987 in Neues Jahrbuch provides additional data on Pawpawsaurus
|
Confirmed | B | 7 | Fossil | Pawpawsaurus research in Neues Jahrbuch | Systematics |
Active Debate
Active research continues on the systematics, phylogeny, and ecology of Pawpawsaurus.
What We Still Do Not Know About Pawpawsaurus
- Colouration: Unknown.
- Complete skeleton: Partial material known.
- Diet: Inferred from related taxa.
- Social structure: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Not a lot can be said about Pawpawsaurus because so far it is only known by a skull. However, another nodosaur from the Paw Paw Formation is Texasetes (which includes post cranial remains), which has been suggested as being a synonym to Pawpawsaurus. If this is true, then the current Pawpawsaurus fossil material, will be attributed to Texasetes since that genus was named first. Till then, Pawpawsaurus has been considered to be related to Silvisaurus, Sauropelta and Cedarpelta.
Further Reading
- A nodosaurid ankylosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Lower Cretaceous of Texas., W. P. Coombs - 1995. - A new nodosaurid ankylosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Paw Paw Formation (Late Albian) of Texas., Y. -N. lee - 1996. – Endocranial Morphology of the Primitive Nodosaurid Dinosaur Pawpawsaurus campbelli from the Early Cretaceous of North America. – PLoS ONE. 11 (3): e0150845. – A. Paulina-Carabajal, Y. N. Lee, & L. L. Jacobs – 2016.
