Ferropectis is an alleged taxon (nomen nudum) of a Nodosaurid Ankylosaur that lived in Texas, USA during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous epoch. Its fossils have been discovered in the Marine Eagle Ford Group Formation of North-Central Texas.
History[]
In April 2015, a team from the Southern Methodist University of Texas unearthed the fossils, after being discovered by local fossil hunters Tim and Wylie Brys. The specimen was the first Ankylosaurian remains to be found from the Marine Eagle Ford Group Formation. It was named as a dissertion (nomen ex dissertatione) in 2018 by Palaeontologist Matt Clemens of the Southern Methodist University of Texas.
Description[]
Ferropectis is considered one of the most precisely-dated and partially complete Nodosaurids known. The holotype for the specimen (SMU 77100) consists of a semi-articulated anterior partial skeleton including the cranium, cervical, pectoral and dorsal osteoderms, six dorsal vertebrae, and one caudal vertebra, seven partial ribs, a partial left pectoral girdle, left humerus, right radius and ulna, left femur, and some other manual elements. Arranged cranial armour as well as some prominent Osteoderms were also found.
Phylogeny[]
Ferropectis is placed in the taxon including Hungarosaurus, Europelta, Pawpawsaurus and Borealopelta. Ferropectis is considered to be very closely related to Borealopelta, making it the sister taxon. However, minute features like cranial ornamentation, cervical and pectoral armor differentiate Ferropectis from Borealopelta. The phylogenic split between the three taxa (Ferropectis, Borealopelta and Pawpawsaurus) is said to have occured in the Albian stage.
Naming[]
The genus Ferropectis contains the only species, Ferropectis brysorum. The genus name comes from the Latin term 'Ferrum' meaning Iron, and 'Pectum' meaning Body, thus, meaning 'Iron Body' overall, referring to the strong armour of the dinosaur. The specific name of 'Brysorum' is given in honor to the fossil hunters who first discovered the fossil, Tim and Wylie Brys