[D] Torilion dawsoni [jG]
Describer
(Carpenter 2010) (Ishida 2010)
Time
Cretaceous Early Valanginian
Classification
Ornithischia Ornithopoda Iguanodontia
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Hastings Beds, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, England
Fall Under
Barilium dawsoni
Info
Barilium dawsoni (Norman 2010) > Iguanodon dawsoni (Lydekker, 1888) >> Torilion dawsoni (Carpenter 2010) (Ishida 2010)
Barilium dawsoni (Norman 2010) > Sellacoxa pauli (Carpenter & Ishida 2010)
Carpenter & Ishida (2010) Early and “Middle” Cretaceous Iguanodonts in Time and Space Journal of Iberian Geology 36 (2) 145-164
Torilion dawsoni n.g. (Lydekker, 1888b) = Iguanodon dawsoni Lydekker, 1888b
Type Locality
Saint Leonards, East Sussex, England.
Horizon
Wadhurst Clay, Hastings Beds Group (Allen, 1960).
Age
lower Valanginian (Allen and Wimbledon 1991).
Etymology
Torus – Latin for “rounded” and “ilion”
Latin for ilium, in reference to the rounded postacetabular process. Syntypes: BMNH R798, 798a, R803-805 dorsal vertebrae, R806 chevron, R798b dorsal and caudal vertebrae, R802 left ilium and partial pubis, R802a proximal end of tibia, R799-801 metatarsals (Lydekker 1888a: 196-200).
Diagnosis
Ilium deep, slight development of the lateral iliac crest, broad medial shelf on preacetabular process, postacetabular portion long, deep and rounded distally, narrow brevis shelf, shallow postacetabular notch distally located on postacetabular process.
Comments
The holotype ilium differs significantly from that of Iguanodon bernissartensis as noted by Lydekker (1888b) who acknowledged that it might belong in a new genus. However, as discussed further below, he chose a more conservative approach, but in doing so, greatly expanded the concept of the genus Iguanodon.
The distinctiveness of the species of Iguanodon also has been noted by Norman (1987) and Blows (1998). Galton (2009), however, had independently of our work concluded that the specimen should not be referred to Iguanodon. Lydekker (1888b) refers to the holotype as consisting of an associated skeleton and lists the bones separately in Lydekker (1888a); these are taken as the type series or collectively as the syntypes (ICZN 73.2). The preacetabular process is incomplete, but what remains is parallel sided. The ischial peduncle is expanded onto lateral surface.