- Rugops
Taxobox
name = "Rugops"
image width = 200 pixels
fossil_range=Late Cretaceous
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo =Dinosaur ia
ordo =Saurischia
subordo =Theropoda
familia =Abelisauridae ?
genus = "Rugops"
genus_authority= Sereno "et al.", 2004
subdivision_ranks=Species
subdivision=
*"R. primus" Sereno "et al.", 2004 (type)"Rugops" (meaning "wrinkle face") is a
genus oftheropod dinosaur which inhabited what is nowAfrica approximately 95 million years ago. The discovery of a "Rugops"skull inNiger in 2000 was a crucial breakthrough in the understanding of the evolution of theropods in that area, and demonstrates that this landmass was still united withGondwana at that stage in history.At 7 - 9 m (24 - 30 ft) long and 2.5 m (8 ft) high at the hip, "Rugops" was a medium-sized
carnivore . The skull bore armour or scales, and other bones had manyblood vessel s, causing Dr.Paul Sereno , who led the team that discovered the fossil, to say, "It's not the kind of head designed for fighting or bone-crushing", suggesting that it may have been a scavenger. The skull also bears two rows of seven holes each, of unknown purpose, although Sereno has speculated that they may have anchored some kind of crest or horns.Like other abelisaurs, "Rugops" probably had very short arms. These were probably useless in fighting. They may have only been balance tools, items to counterbalance the dinosaur's head.
The
type species is "R. primus" (meaning "first wrinkle-face"). "Rugops" is believed to be anabelisaurid , or closely related, and is related to "Majungasaurus ".External links
* [http://208.51.67.12/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Rugops Artist's impressions of "Rugops", from Project Exploration]
* [http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/nature-online/dino-directory/detail.dsml?Genus=Rugops "Rugops"] in the Dino DirectoryReferences
* [http://www.projectexploration.org/rugops.htm Project Exploration on "Rugops"] * [http://www.projectexploration.org/news-060204.htm Project Exploration news on "Rugops"]
* [http://www.projectexploration.org/newsletters/cpd-rugops-press-release.pdf Chicago Park District press release on "Rugops"] ,PDF format
* [http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2004/june/rugops.htm Sereno's speculation from "Science in Africa"] ,
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