Metriacanthosaurus
From Greek 'metrios' (moderate), 'akantha' (spine or thorn), and 'sauros' (lizard); meaning 'moderately-spined lizard'.
Late Jurassic stages
Metriacanthosaurus is a genus of metriacanthosaurid dinosaur from the Oxford Clay Formation of England, dating to the Late Jurassic period, about 160 million years ago (lower Oxfordian). It is the only metriacanthosaurid currently named from outside of Asia.
Diagnosis
- Elevated neural spines of dorsal vertebrae, inclined slightly forward
- Ilium with abrupt change in inclination of superior margin, blade relatively deeper at that point
- Pubic foot expanded, originally ~18 cm long
- Femora relatively more slender than M. bucklandi
- Lesser trochanter more proximally placed
- Cnemial process of tibia projects strongly upward
Species
Metriacanthosaurus parkeri Walker, 1964
Type species
Named for W. Parker, who discovered the holotype at Jordan's Cliff near Weymouth, Dorset in 1871.
- Holotype
- OUMNH PAL-J.012144 , Oxford University Museum of Natural History
- Material
- Ilium, distal ischia (63 cm), pubes (~80 cm), anterior dorsal vertebra, femora.
- Horizon
- Weymouth Member, Oxford Clay Formation, Oxfordian, Late Jurassic , 161.5–154.8 million years ago
- Locality
- Jordan's Cliff, Overcombe, Dorset, United Kingdom
References
- Walker, A. D. (1964). Triassic reptiles from the Elgin area: Ornithosuchus and the origin of carnosaurs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, Biological Sciences 248: 53-134. doi:10.1098/rstb.1964.0009 walker1964a