[D] Gobisaurus domoculus [Su] [sG] [T]
Describer
Vickaryous, Russell, Currie & Zhao 2001
Time
Cretaceous Early Aptian ?Albian
Classification
Ornithischia Thyreophora Eurypoda Ankylosauria Ankylosauridae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Ulansuhai Formation (Sohongru), Maortu, Alshan Desert, Inner Mongolia, China
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
A nearly complete skeleton collected by the Sino-Soviet Expeditions (1959–1960) to the Alshan Desert, China that closely resembles Shamosaurus scutatus The phylogenetic analysis placed Gobisaurus domoculus as the sister taxon to Shamosaurus scutatus but is distinct in having an unfused basipterygoid–pterygoid contact and elongate premaxillary processes of the vomers. Although it is difficult to make a definitive taxonomic assignment without considering postcranial material, a preliminary phylogenetic analysis places Gobisaurus as the sister taxon of Shamosaurus, clustered as one of several successive outgroups of the [Ankylosaurinae].
Ethymology
\\\\\\\"Gobi\\\\\\\" [dessert] + Greek sauros = \\\\\\\"lizard\\\\\\\".
Holotype
IVPP V12563, almost complete skeleton.
Diagnosis
(as for the type species): Large ankylosaurid having orbits 20 percent of cranial length, external nares 23 percent of cranial length; Basipterygoid process robust, not fused to main pterygoid body; premaxillary process of vomers elongate, vivible in palatal view; similar to Shamosaurus in having delta-shaped dorsal profile, premaxillae forming narrow apex; differing from Shamosaurus in that cranium is longer than wide; lacks discernible cranial sculptering over antiorbital area; length of maxillary tooth row compared to overall length of craniu, relatively shorter; maximum width of premaxillary rostrum greater than distance between caudal most maxillary teeth; supraorbital bosses reduced; rostral surface of pterygoid vertically oriented (Vickaryous, Russell, Currie and Zhao , 2001)
Gobisaurus and Shamosaurus share a similar temporal and geographic distribution.
Vickaryous, Russell, Currie & Zhao 2001
Time
Cretaceous Early Aptian ?Albian
Classification
Ornithischia Thyreophora Eurypoda Ankylosauria Ankylosauridae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Ulansuhai Formation (Sohongru), Maortu, Alshan Desert, Inner Mongolia, China
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
A nearly complete skeleton collected by the Sino-Soviet Expeditions (1959–1960) to the Alshan Desert, China that closely resembles Shamosaurus scutatus The phylogenetic analysis placed Gobisaurus domoculus as the sister taxon to Shamosaurus scutatus but is distinct in having an unfused basipterygoid–pterygoid contact and elongate premaxillary processes of the vomers. Although it is difficult to make a definitive taxonomic assignment without considering postcranial material, a preliminary phylogenetic analysis places Gobisaurus as the sister taxon of Shamosaurus, clustered as one of several successive outgroups of the [Ankylosaurinae].
Ethymology
\\\\\\\"Gobi\\\\\\\" [dessert] + Greek sauros = \\\\\\\"lizard\\\\\\\".
Holotype
IVPP V12563, almost complete skeleton.
Diagnosis
(as for the type species): Large ankylosaurid having orbits 20 percent of cranial length, external nares 23 percent of cranial length; Basipterygoid process robust, not fused to main pterygoid body; premaxillary process of vomers elongate, vivible in palatal view; similar to Shamosaurus in having delta-shaped dorsal profile, premaxillae forming narrow apex; differing from Shamosaurus in that cranium is longer than wide; lacks discernible cranial sculptering over antiorbital area; length of maxillary tooth row compared to overall length of craniu, relatively shorter; maximum width of premaxillary rostrum greater than distance between caudal most maxillary teeth; supraorbital bosses reduced; rostral surface of pterygoid vertically oriented (Vickaryous, Russell, Currie and Zhao , 2001)
Gobisaurus and Shamosaurus share a similar temporal and geographic distribution.