[D] Nuthetes destructor [sG] [T]
Describer
Owen, 1854 (partim)
Time
Cretaceous Early Berriasian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Dromaeosauridae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Lulworth Formation, Cherry Freshwater Member, Purbeck Limstone Group, Purbeck Beds [Middle], Isle of Purbeck, England
Length
1.8 meter (approximately)
Info
Genus - Typespecies
A small bidepal carnivore first referred to Megalosaurus.
Holotype
DORCM G 913, partial left dentary
Known material
Dentary fragments with teeth, isolated teeth.
Diagnosis of genus (as for the type species
Small dromaeosaur, tooth denticle size difference index ranging from 1.14 tp 1.55, denticles perpendicular to tooth margin (Milner, 2002)
Milner (2002), redescribing Nuthetes destructur, referred the following specimens to N. destrutor: BMNH 48207, a split slab with dentary fragments containing teeth (figured by Owen, 1878); BMNH 48208, numerous isolated teeth (figured by Owen, 1878); BMNH 15870-76, isolated teeth; BMNH R 15870, isolated teeth (figured by Owen, 1879) collected by R. Coran; and CAMSM J13951, an isolated tooth, previously identified as lacertilian, from the Mammal Bed.
Owen, 1879 referred a number of phosphatic \\\"granicones\\\" collected from the Purbeck Limestone Formation in Dorset, southern England to Nuthetes believing these object to be dermal bones or armor not unlike the scutes of modern day lizards, Barrett, Clarke, Brinkman, Chapman and Ensom, 2002 reintrerpreted these specimens as limb osteoderms of turtles, possibly of the species Helochelydra anglica or \\\"Tretosternon\\\" bukewelli.