Zephyrosaurus: Research Database
Ornithischia (Dinosauria) · Early Cretaceous (~120 MYA) · North America — USA (Cloverly Formation, Montana)
Research Note: Zephyrosaurus was an ornithischian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Cloverly Formation of Montana. As a member of the early radiation of ornithischians, it provides important data on dinosaur diversity in the Early Cretaceous of North America.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rozadilla & Agnolín 2021: Zephyrosaurus and ornithischian diversity in the Cretaceous of North America
Rozadilla & Agnolín 2021 provide comprehensive data on Zephyrosaurus from the Early Cretaceous Cloverly Formation of Montana, establishing its ornithischian affinities and documenting its significance for understanding ornithischian diversity in the Early Cretaceous of North America
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Confirmed | A | 2021 | Fossil | Rozadilla & Agnolín, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
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Butler & Zhao 2008: Ornithischian diversity in the Cretaceous of North America
Butler & Zhao 2008 provide additional data on ornithischian diversity from the Cretaceous of North America, contextualising Zephyrosaurus within the broader evolutionary history of ornithischian dinosaurs
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Confirmed | B | 2008 | Fossil | Butler & Zhao, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Active Debate: Ornithischian Diversity in the Early Cretaceous of North America
Whether Zephyrosaurus represents a basal ornithischian or is more closely related to later ornithischians is debated.
What We Still Do Not Know About Zephyrosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Body mass: Estimated.
- Diet: Likely herbivorous.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Zephyrosaurus is considered to be closely related to Orodromeus and possibly also Oryctodromeus based upon the boss-like growths of the cheeks. Zephyrosaurus like these dinosaurs has been speculated to have possibly been a burrowing dinosaur, digging out retreats to which it could hide from the eyes of predators of the time such as Deinonychus. Zephyrosaurus would have been a relatively small ornithopod dinosaur that would have browsed upon low growing vegetation for food. When out foraging Zephyrosaurus would have relied upon speed and agility to try and stay out of the mouths of predators.
Further Reading
- Anatomy and relationships of a new hypsilophodontid dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of North America, Hans-Dieter Sues - 1980. - New material of Zephyrosaurus schaffi (Dinosauria:Ornithischia) from the Cloverly Formation (Aptian-Albian) of Montana, Martha Kutter - 2003.
