Fun Nodocephalosaurus Facts For Kids

These Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis (ankylosaurid dinosaurs) were the only taxa of their genus. This new Ornithischia ankylosaurid dinosaur was closely associated with other subfamilies from central Asia. There is not much evidence available, but these dinosaur species would probably migrate as they have common features with those found in North America and Central Asia.

Fossils of the North American Nodocephalosaurus, categorized under the order of Ornithischia, were recovered from the upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. These Ankylosauria from the upper Cretaceous are known to be quadrupeds and reproduced by mating. The eggs laid were protected by the females.

The fossils of these new ankylosaurids are not yet completely recovered, and their exact weight and size are not yet evaluated. A specimen of a skull bone has been recovered and is distinguished by semi-inflated to bulbous, polygonal, cranial osteoderms that are bilaterally and symmetrically arranged on the frontonasal region of the skull. This new ankylosaurid dinosaur Ornithischia was a herbivore.

If you enjoy reading this article, then do read some interesting and surprising facts about Yaverlandia and Yingshanosaurus.

How do you pronounce 'Nodocephalosaurus'?

The pronunciation of the word Nodocephalosaurus, the new ankylosaurid dinosaur Ornithischia, is 'no-doe-sef-ah-low-sore-us'.

What type of dinosaur was the Nodocephalosaurus?

The Nodocephalosaurus, a new ankylosaurid dinosaur, is from the genus of Nodocephalosaurus and from the family of Ankylosauridae. They clade within Dinosauria and the phylum Chordata. The Nodocephalosaurus was categorized under the order of Ornithischia. These ankylosaurids were dinosaur species of the Late Cretaceous period. The scientific name of these ankylosaurids is Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis. They are distinguished by semi-inflated to bulbous, polygonal, cranial osteoderms that are bilaterally and symmetrically arranged in the frontonasal region of the skull.

In which geological period did the Nodocephalosaurus roam the earth?

These Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis were dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous geological period. Their remains were from the upper Campanian to the Cretaceous. These ankylosaurid dinosaurs, Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis, are similar to the Mongolian ankylosaurids Saichania chulsanensis and Tarchia gigantea. They clade within Dinosauria and the phylum Chordata (Sullivan 1999).

When did the Nodocephalosaurus become Extinct?

The Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis lived 83.5 to 70.6 million years ago.

Where did the Nodocephalosaurus live?

The deposits of Nodocephalosaurus have been recovered from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. It is evident that they migrated from North America and Central Asia.

What was the Nodocephalosaurus's habitat?

The Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis was a terrestrial dinosaur. They were from the upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation. The Nodocephalosaurus habitat was dry climate conditions with low vegetation areas.

Who did the Nodocephalosaurus live with?

The new ankylosaurid dinosaur Ornithischia Nodocephalosaurus lived in groups of four to eight so that they could protect their young, as seen in the specimen remains found in the upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation.

How long did the Nodocephalosaurus live?

The Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis lived from 83.5 million years ago to 70.6 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous age.

How did they reproduce?

Most of the ankylosaurid dinosaurs from the Kirtland Formation (upper Campanian) San Juan Basin, New Mexico were believed to reproduce by mating and the females laid eggs in clutches of two to five eggs. The female was responsible for taking care of the eggs and protecting them from predators.

What did a Nodocephalosaurus look like?

According to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, the ankylosaurid dinosaur, Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis, is distinguished by semi-inflated to bulbous, polygonal, cranial osteoderms that are bilaterally and symmetrically arranged on the frontonasal region of the skull. They also look like Asian ankylosaurids. Their partial skull was recovered among other ankylosaurid material. These Nodocephalosaurus were described by Sullivan in 1999.

These ankylosaurid dinosaurs, Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis, are similar to the Mongolian ankylosaurids Saichania chulsanensis and Tarchia gigantea. The maxilla has a paranasal sinus cavity. If we compare the armor of these ankylosaurids, they are very similar to the Akainacephalus, which was discovered in the Kaiparowits Formation in 2018. They clade within Dinosauria and the phylum Chordata.

How many bones did a Nodocephalosaurus have?

According to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, the fossil remains and specimens of this Cretaceous Kirtland Formation De-na-zin member, monotype taxa Nodocephalosaurus, have not been fully recovered, and their research continues. The ankylosaurid material gathered from the Upper Campanian San Juan Basin, New Mexico, has only found the skull bone remains, which is insufficient to know the exact number of bones it had. We do know it had cranial osteoderms that are bilaterally and symmetrically arranged on the frontonasal region of the skull

How did they communicate?

These Upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation De-na-zin members communicated using olfactory and tactile cues. Nodocephalosaurus wildlife also used body gestures to protect their young ones from predators.

How big was the Nodocephalosaurus?

The exact size or shape of this North American Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis from the Upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation (Upper Campanian) is unknown. From the incomplete fossils of these ankylosaurids, their size cannot be determined. The partial skull-shaped fossil size is somewhere around 15 ft (4.6 m). They are similar to Asian ankylosaurids.

How fast could a Nodocephalosaurus move?

The exact speed of this new ankylosaurid dinosaur Ornithischia from the Upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation (Upper Campanian) is unknown. As they were small dinosaurs, they may have been slow in their locomotion compared to other species.

How much did a Nodocephalosaurus weigh?

The exact weight of these Ankylosauria from the upper Campanian San Juan Basin, New Mexico, is unknown and cannot be determined because of the incomplete fossil and vertebrae evidence available. However, the weight of the partial skull bone has been weighed and is approximately 5,2911 oz (1,500 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

These new ankylosaurid Ornithischia dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation (Upper Campanian) San Juan Basin, New Mexico, do not have any specific names for their male and female species. They are known by their generic names – male Nodocephalosaurus and female Nodocephalosaurus.

What would you call a baby Nodocephalosaurus?

These new ankylosaurid dinosaur babies from the Kirtland Formation (upper Campanian) San Juan Basin, New Mexico are called hatchlings or juveniles.

What did they eat?

From the history of Nodocephalosaurus (Sullivan 1999), it is known that these Ankylosauria from the upper Campanian San Juan Basin fed on grasses, herbs, and small plants. They were herbivores.

How aggressive were they?

The females might be aggressive during the nestling period. They protect their young hatchlings from predators and might not like the interference of other species of animals.

Did you know...

The Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis is the only species of the genus Nodocephalosaurus. The name Nodocephalosaurus is from Greek: 'Nodus' means 'knob', 'kephale' means 'head', and 'sauros' means 'lizard'. Sometimes, these dinosaurs are referred to as knob-headed lizards due to the shape of their cranial ornamentation.

These Nodocephalosaurus were described by Sullivan in 1999.

In 2006, their vertebrae, partial skull bone, and other fossil remains were recovered. According to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, their association with taxa Euoplocephalus or Panoplosaurus is assumed to be additional to the remains of ankylosaurid material from the Kirtland Formation (upper Campanian) San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Euoplocephalus weighed around 7,0548-8,185 oz (2,000-2,500 kg).

What environment did the Nodosaurus live in?

According to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Nodosaurus was herbivorous. They were native to North America and were found in the rocky lands of Alberta, Canada. Historically, they are Ankylosauria from the upper Campanian San Juan Basin and are similar to Tarchia gigantea.

What time period did Nodosaurus live?

The Nodosaurus lived in the era of the Cenomanian and Campanian 99.6 to 70.6 million years ago.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Campylognathoides facts or Jaxartosaurus fun facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Nodocephalosaurus coloring pages.

Both images are by Emily Willoughby.

*We've been unable to source an image of Nodocephalosaurus and have used an image of Sauropelta instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Nodocephalosaurus, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected].