Recently, Everything Dinosaur produced a blog article about the discovery of a fragmentary fossil dinosaur limb bone in Morocco. The fossil (specimen number USMBA 001), is the head of a left femur (thigh bone). The fossil measures approximately five centimetres in length. It might not be very big, but its discovery has big implications for those palaeontologists studying the Ornithischia (bird-hipped dinosaurs). Researchers have posited that this fossil represents the world’s oldest described remains of a cerapodan dinosaur. Following our blog post about this discovery, we received an enquiry asking what is a cerapodan dinosaur? The Cerapoda defined by Everything Dinosaur team members in response to a customer query.
To read our earlier blog post about USMBA 001: World’s Oldest Cerapodan Fossil Described.
The Cerapoda Defined
Whilst the taxonomy of many bird-hipped dinosaurs remains unresolved, most palaeontologists agree that within the huge and diverse Ornithischia, there are a number of groups (clades) that can be defined. Within the Ornithischia, there are two major sub-divisions, the armoured dinosaurs (Thyreophora) and the Neornithischia.
If we focus on the Neornithischia we can further divided these dinosaurs into sub-groups. One sub-group, more accurately termed a clade, consists of highly derived bird-hipped dinosaurs. This is the Cerapoda.
This clade comprises two branches:
- Ornithopoda – iguanodontians and their relatives along with the hadrosaurs (Ankylopollexia).
CollectA 1:40 scale Iguanodon model. An illustration of a member of the clade Cerapoda as we explore this clade and provide a definition – the Cerapoda defined.
The picture (above) shows a model of an Iguanodon (Iguanodon bernissartensis). It is an iconic member of the Ornithopoda. The model comes from the CollectA Deluxe range of scale prehistoric animal models.
To view this range: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Figures.
- Marginocephalia – the horned dinosaurs and their relatives (ceratopsids) and the bone-headed dinosaurs (pachycephalosaurs).
An iconic member of the Marginocephalia. A replica of Triceratops (T. horridus). This is the Haolonggood Triceratops model.
The picture (above) shows a replica of perhaps one of the most famous dinosaurs of all. This is Triceratops, a ceratopsian dinosaur and a member of the Marginocephalia.
This is the Haolonggood Qin Ming Triceratops figure. To view the range of Haolonggood models: Haolonggood Prehistoric Animal Figures.
Our Definition
The Cerapoda is a clade within the ornithischian (bird-hipped dinosaurs). It consists of two distinct two subgroups the Ornithopoda and the Marginocephalia. It is an extremely diverse clade with the ornithopods including iconic dinosaurs such as Hypsilophodon, Iguanodon and the duck-billed dinosaurs along with their close relatives. In turn, the Marginocephalia comprises the horned dinosaurs (Ceratopsia) and the pachycephalosaurs.
We hope this answers our customer’s enquiry. At Everything Dinosaur, we try our best to respond to every question that we receive.
The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Figures and Models.
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