Taveirosaurus
Encyclopedia
Taveirosaurus (meaning "Taveiro lizard") is a genus
of ornithischia
n dinosaur
that lived in Europe
during the Late Cretaceous
. The genus is based solely on teeth.
From 1968 Miguel Telles Antunes
and Giuseppe Manuppella uncovered fossils at the Cerâmica do Mondego quarry near Taveiro, a village in Portugal
, southwest of Coimbra
. Among them were a number of low triangular teeth of a herbivorous dinosaur. In 1991 these were named and described by Telles Antunes and Denise Sigogneau-Russell as the type species
Taveirosaurus costai. The generic name refers to Taveiro. The specific name honours the Portuguese geologist
João Carrington da Costa.
The holotype
, CEGUNL-TV 10, was found in ancient river clay of the Argilas de Aveiro Formation dating from the Maastrichtian
. It consists of one of the teeth. Nine other teeth were also assigned to the genus, CEGUNL-TV 6–9, 11 and 13–16. Later also some teeth found near Lano
in Spain
were referred.
Having only the teeth to base themselves on, Telles Antunes and Sigogneau originally thought that Taveirosaurus belonged to some pachycephalosauria
n group. In 1991 they assigned it to the Homalocephalosauridae, in 1992 to the Pachycephalosauridae. However, they soon rejected this possibility — and Taveirosaurus has not been included in this group in recent reviews — in 1995 considering it a member of the Nodosauridae
. In 1996 Peter Galton
suggested it might have belonged to the Fabrosauridae
, pointing out a similarity to the teeth of Alocodon
and Trimucrodon
, two other "tooth genera". In 2004 David B. Norman
concluded it was a nomen dubium
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ornithischia
Ornithischia
Ornithischia or Predentata is an extinct order of beaked, herbivorous dinosaurs. The name ornithischia is derived from the Greek ornitheos meaning 'of a bird' and ischion meaning 'hip joint'...
n dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
that lived in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during the Late Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
. The genus is based solely on teeth.
From 1968 Miguel Telles Antunes
Miguel Telles Antunes
Miguel Telles Antunes is a Portuguese palaeontologist. He is specializes, among other things, in dinosaur palaeontology.Antunes is the director of the Museu Maynense da Academia das Ciências de Lisboa...
and Giuseppe Manuppella uncovered fossils at the Cerâmica do Mondego quarry near Taveiro, a village in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, southwest of Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
. Among them were a number of low triangular teeth of a herbivorous dinosaur. In 1991 these were named and described by Telles Antunes and Denise Sigogneau-Russell as the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
Taveirosaurus costai. The generic name refers to Taveiro. The specific name honours the Portuguese geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
João Carrington da Costa.
The holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
, CEGUNL-TV 10, was found in ancient river clay of the Argilas de Aveiro Formation dating from the Maastrichtian
Maastrichtian
The Maastrichtian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the latest age or upper stage of the Late Cretaceous epoch or Upper Cretaceous series, the Cretaceous period or system, and of the Mesozoic era or erathem. It spanned from 70.6 ± 0.6 Ma to 65.5 ± 0.3 Ma...
. It consists of one of the teeth. Nine other teeth were also assigned to the genus, CEGUNL-TV 6–9, 11 and 13–16. Later also some teeth found near Lano
Lano
Lano is a leading brand of soap in Norway. It comes in varieties of shower gels and liquid hand wash as well as the original soap bar. Lano is produced by Lilleborg Commodities, a hygiene product manufacturer owned in turn by the Orkla Group.-History:...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
were referred.
Having only the teeth to base themselves on, Telles Antunes and Sigogneau originally thought that Taveirosaurus belonged to some pachycephalosauria
Pachycephalosauria
Pachycephalosauria is a clade of ornithischian dinosaurs. Well-known genera include Pachycephalosaurus, Stegoceras, Stygimoloch, and Dracorex. Most lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, in what is now North America and Asia. They were all bipedal, herbivorous/omnivorous animals with thick skulls...
n group. In 1991 they assigned it to the Homalocephalosauridae, in 1992 to the Pachycephalosauridae. However, they soon rejected this possibility — and Taveirosaurus has not been included in this group in recent reviews — in 1995 considering it a member of the Nodosauridae
Nodosauridae
Nodosauridae is a family of ankylosaurian dinosaurs, from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous Period of what are now North America, Asia, Antarctica and Europe.-Characteristics:...
. In 1996 Peter Galton
Peter Galton
Peter M. Galton is a British vertebrate paleontologist working in America, who has to date written or co-written about a hundred papers in scientific journals or chapters in paleontology textbooks, especially on ornithischian and prosauropod dinosaurs.With Robert Bakker in a joint article...
suggested it might have belonged to the Fabrosauridae
Fabrosauridae
The Fabrosauridae was originally proposed by Galton , as a group of basal ornithischian dinosaurs from the Early to Middle Jurassic. However, recent studies indicate the Fabrosaurs are not a natural grouping of dinosaurs, and instead consist of unrelated genera.The proposed "Fabrosaurs" descended...
, pointing out a similarity to the teeth of Alocodon
Alocodon
Alocodon is a genus of ornithischian dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of what is now Portugal. It was described in 1973 by Richard Anthony Thulborn. It had small ornithopod-like teeth with vertical grooves...
and Trimucrodon
Trimucrodon
Trimucrodon is a genus of herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous of what is now Portugal...
, two other "tooth genera". In 2004 David B. Norman
David B. Norman
David Bruce Norman is a British paleontologist, currently Director of the Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge University. He is a fellow at Christ's College, Cambridge where he teaches geology in the Natural Sciences tripos. He is a member of the Palaeontological Association. He has studied Iguanodon...
concluded it was a nomen dubium
Nomen dubium
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
.