Nanuqsaurus
From Inupiaq 'nanuq' (polar bear) and Greek 'sauros' (lizard); meaning 'polar bear lizard', referring to its Arctic Alaska discovery locality.
Late Cretaceous stages
Nanuqsaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurine theropod dinosaur known from the Late Cretaceous (Latest Campanian age) Prince Creek Formation of the North Slope of Alaska. It contains a single species, Nanuqsaurus hoglundi, known from a partial skull and multiple undescribed postcranial and teeth elements.
Diagnosis
- Thin, rostrally-forked median spur of fused parietals that overlaps and separates frontals within sagittal crest
- Frontal with long, rostrally-pointed process separating prefrontal and lacrimal facets
- First two dentary teeth/alveoli much smaller than teeth 3-9 in mature individuals; alveolus 1 less than 35% mesiodistal length of alveolus 3 and 25% or less of alveolus 4; alveolus 2 less than 50% of alveolus 3 and 33% or less of alveolus 4
Species
Nanuqsaurus hoglundi Fiorillo & Tykoski, 2014
Type species
Named for philanthropist Forrest Hoglund, honoring contributions to philanthropy and cultural institutions.
- Holotype
- DMNH 21461 , Perot Museum of Nature and Science
- Material
- Partial skull fragments including nasal branch of right maxilla, frontal, parietal, laterosphenoid, and dentary fragments
- Horizon
- Prince Creek Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 72.2–66.0 million years ago
- Locality
- Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry, Alaska, United States
References
- Fiorillo, A. R.; Tykoski, R. S. (2014). A Diminutive New Tyrannosaur from the Top of the World. PLoS ONE 9(3): e91287. Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091287 fiorillo2014a