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Describer
Dong, 2002 Time
Cretaceous Late Cenomanian Turonian Classification
Ornithischia Ankylosauria Diet Herbivore Fossilsite
Sunjiawin Formation, Xiafuxiang,
Liaoning Province, Beipiao City, China Length 3 meter
Info Genus - Typespecies
IVPP
V12745: Partial dentary w/ teeth Hypodigm APK:5/5: IVPP V12746-2 dorsal
vertebra and LPM 101-1–4 postcrania, in addition to holotype specimen.
The generic name is dedicated to Mr. Michael Crichton, author of the
book "Jurassic Park". Dinosaurs became one of the most popular
scientific subject due to this book. The specific name is dedicated to
Dr. B. Bohlin, a well-known Swedish collector of vertebrate fossil
including several ankylosaurs along the Silk Road, Northwestern China.
The specimens came from the
Sunjiawin Formation of Beipiao Basin, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The newly found ankylosaur fossil supports the Late Cretaceous age of this unit (Cenomanian-Turonian).
The
materials contain a fragment of left mandible bearing three teeth (IVPP
V 12745); two cervical vertebrae, a complete dorsal (IVPP V12746); four
sacral and caudal vertbrae, complete scapula, coracoid, humerus, and
femur, as well as various plates and scutes of dermal armor (LPM 101).
LPM is the abbreviation of the Paleontology Museum of Liaoning.
Crichtonsaurus is
a medium-sized ankylosaur, 3 meters in length on the basis length of
vertebrae. The mandible is thin and without outer surface
ornamentation. The teeth are small, and typically ankylosaurid in
shape. The crown of each tooth is symmetrical with 4 or 5 marginal
denticles. The cingulum is strong on the base of crown. Small ridges
are found on flatter side of the crown. The centra of cervical
vertebrae are short and amphicoelous. The cnetra of dorsal vertebrae
are amphiplatyan, with upward-pointing diapophyses. The centra of
anterior caudal vertebrae are broad and comparatively short with long
transverse precesses. the scapula and coracoid are not fused together
as a scapulocoracoid. Dermal plates, scutes, and spikes vary in size
and form.
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