Name:
Lusitanosaurus
(Portugal lizard).
Phonetic: Loo-se-tan-o-sore-us.
Named By: Albert-Felix de Lapparent &
Georges Zbyszewski - 1957.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Ornithischia, Thyreophora, Ankylosauria?
Species: L. liasicus (type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Unknown due to lack of remains.
Known locations: Portugal.
Time period: Sinemurian of the Jurassic.
Fossil representation: Partial left maxilla and
seven teeth.
Lusitanosaurus is widely regarded as a dubious genus because of the lack of fossils that were used to describe it. The maxilla in question was originally thought to be from a stegosaur, but today it is considered to be from an ankylosaurian. Beyond this it is hard to infer anything further other than in life the dinosaur was likely a herbivore and quadrupedal like other members of the Thyreophora, and again this is why the genus is regarded as dubious.
Further reading
- Les dinosauriens du Portugal, Albert-Felix de Lapparent
& Georges Zbyszewski - 1957.