Open Paleo

Morrosaurus

Rozadilla et al., 2016 MOH-ro-SOR-us

Refers to the site of El Morro on James Ross Island, Antarctica, where the remains were found, combined with Greek sauros meaning 'lizard'

72.2–66.0 million years ago Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Morrosaurus is an extinct genus of herbivorous elasmarian dinosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous in Antarctica. The only known species is the type Morrosaurus antarcticus.

Diagnosis

  1. Femur with lesser trochanter positioned anterolaterally to greater trochanter
  2. Greater trochanter with sigmoidal lateral margin in proximal view, transversely thick posterior edge and very thin anterior edge
  3. Tibia with medial malleolus subtriangular in contour with concave anterior surface
  4. Metatarsal IV with thick, well-developed posterior process medially wrapping metatarsal III

Species

Morrosaurus antarcticus Rozadilla et al., 2016

Type species

Named for Antarctica, the continent where the holotype was discovered on James Ross Island, with the Latin suffix '-icus' meaning 'of' or 'relating to'.

Holotype
MACN Pv 19777 , Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’
Material
Right hind limb: proximal and distal femur, proximal and distal tibia, fibula proximal end, metatarsals II-IV proximal ends, phalanx 1-III
Horizon
Cape Lamb Member, Snow Hill Island Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 72.2–66.0 million years ago
Locality
Northwest of Fortress Hill, El Morro Peninsula, James Ross Island, Antarctica

References

  1. Rozadilla, S.; Agnolín, F. L.; Novas, F. E.; Aranciaga Rolando, A. M.; Motta, M. J.; Lirio, J. M.; Isasi, M. P. (2016). A new ornithopod (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica and its palaeobiogeographical implications. Cretaceous Research 57: 311-324. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2015.09.009 rozadilla2016a