FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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.
The pronunciation of the word Nodocephalosaurus, the new ankylosaurid dinosaur Ornithischia, is 'no-doe-sef-ah-low-sore-us'.
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.
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).
The Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis lived 83.5 to 70.6 million years ago.
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.
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.
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.
The Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis lived from 83.5 million years ago to 70.6 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous age.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
These new ankylosaurid dinosaur babies from the Kirtland Formation (upper Campanian) San Juan Basin, New Mexico are called hatchlings or juveniles.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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].
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At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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