{{Otheruses}}{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}{{Otheruses}}{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}
{{italictitle}}
{{Taxobox
| name =
Craterosaurus
| image =
| image_width = 250px
| regnum =
AnimalAnimals are a major group of mostly multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously...
ia
| phylum =
ChordataChordates are animals which are either vertebrates or one of several closely related invertebrates. They are united by having, for at least some period of their life cycle, a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, an endostyle, and a post-anal tail...
| classis = Sauropsida
| ordo =
OrnithischiaOrnithischia 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'...
| subordo =
ThyreophoraThe Thyreophora were a subgroup of the ornithischian dinosaurs...
| familia = Stegosauridae
| genus =
Craterosaurus
| genus_authority =
| subdivision_ranks =
SpeciesIn biology, a species is:* a taxonomic rank or* a unit at that rank ....
| subdivision =
- Craterosaurus pottonensis (type
In taxonomy, a type species is a technical phrase, involved in the application of formal names...
)SeeleyHarry Govier Seeley was a British paleontologist who determined that dinosaurs fell into two great groups, the Saurischians and the Ornithischians, based on the nature of their pelvic bones and joints. He published his results in 1888, from a lecture he had delivered the previous year...
, 1874
}}
Craterosaurus was a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of stegosaurid
dinosaur{{Otheruses}}{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}{{Otheruses}}{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}{{Taxobox|name = Dinosaurs|fossil_range = {{Fossil range|230|65|earliest=230|latest=0|PS=
Descendant taxon Aves survives to present.}}|image = field_dinos_2.jpg...
. It lived during the Early
CretaceousThe Cretaceous , Latin language for "chalky", 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 on the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
(
ValanginianIn the geologic timescale, the Valanginian is an age or stage of the Early or Lower Cretaceous. It spans between 140.2 ± 3.0 Ma and 136.4 ± 2.0 Ma...
to
BarremianThe Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale between 130.0 ± 1.5 Ma and 125.0 ± 1.0 Ma). It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous epoch...
stages) around 125-140
million years agoIn astronomy, geology, and paleontology, mya or "m.y.a." is an abbreviation for "million years ago". Like the related unit bya, mya is traditionally written in lower case...
. Its fossils were found in
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Craterosaurus may actually be a junior synonym of
RegnosaurusRegnosaurus is a genus of herbivorous stegosaurian dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous Period in what is now England.-Discovery and species:...
, but only one fossil, a partial
vertebraA vertebra is an individual bone in the flexible column that defines vertebrate animals, e.g. humans. The vertebral column encases and protects the spinal cord, which runs from the base of the cranium down the dorsal side of the animal until reaching the pelvis. From there, vertebra continue into...
, was recovered.
The
typeIn taxonomy, a type species is a technical phrase, involved in the application of formal names...
(and only known) species is
Craterosaurus pottonensis, described in 1874 by
Harry SeeleyHarry Govier Seeley was a British paleontologist who determined that dinosaurs fell into two great groups, the Saurischians and the Ornithischians, based on the nature of their pelvic bones and joints. He published his results in 1888, from a lecture he had delivered the previous year...
.
External links
{{portalpar|Dinosaurs}}