Paranthodon (meaning Near Anthodon) is an extinct genus of stegosaur dinosaur that lived in South Africa during the Early Cretaceous period around 139-131 million years ago[1]. The type species is Paranthodon africanus.
History of discovery[]
In 1845, geologists William G. Atherstone and Andrew G. Bain discovered several fossils in Cape Province. Bain sent some fossils to Richard Owen for identification, and Owen named it Anthodon serrarius, and Othniel Charles Marsh assigned it to Stegosauridae based on holotype fossil (BMNH 47338). In 1909, Robert Brown concluded that Owen mixed the fossils, but kept the name Anthodon. In 1929, Franz Nopcsa named it Paranthodon.
Description[]
Paranthodon's fossil contains the back of the snout with maxilla and teeth, the posterior caudodorsal ramus, fragmented nasals, and one isolated tooth from the lower jaw. It was a small relative of Stegosaurus, weighing 454 to 907 kilogram (1,001-2000 Ib) and having a length of 5m (16.4ft). The snout is elongated with convex on top. The premaxilla of Paranthon is incomplete.
Classification[]
Paranthodon is classified as a member of Stegosauridae.
Paleobiology[]
It lived with Nqwebasaurus, Algoasaurus, and Iyuku.
Gallery[]
