Dakotadon Explained

Dakotadon (meaning "Dakota tooth") is a genus of iguanodont dinosaur from the Barremian-age Lower Cretaceous Lakota Formation of South Dakota, USA, known from a partial skull. It was first described in 1989 as Iguanodon lakotaensis, by David B. Weishampel and Philip R. Bjork.^[1] Its assignment has been controversial. Some researchers suggest that "I." lakotaensis was more basal than I. bernissartensis, and related to Theiophytalia,^[2] but David Norman has suggested that it was a synonym of I. bernissartensis.^[3] Gregory S. Paul, working on a revision of iguanodont species, gave "I." lakotaensis its own genus (Dakotadon) in 2008.^[4] He measured its length at 6m (20feet) and body mass at 1MT.^[5]

Notes and References

1. 10.1080/02724634.1989.10011738 . Weishampel . David B. . Philip R. Bjork . 1989. The first indisputable remains of Iguanodon (Ornithischia: Ornithopoda) from North America: Iguanodon lakotaensis, sp. nov. . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 9 . 1 . 56–66.
2. Brill, Kathleen and Kenneth Carpenter. 2007. "A description of a new ornithopod from the Lytle Member of the Purgatoire Formation (Lower Cretaceous) and a reassessment of the skull of Camptosaurus." Horns and Beaks, 49–67.
3. Norman. David B.. On Asian ornithopods (Dinosauria, Ornithischia). 3. A new species of iguanodontid dinosaur. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. January 1998 . 122 . 1–2 . 291–348 . 10.1006/zjls.1997.0122. free.
4. Paul . Gregory S. . 2008 . A revised taxonomy of the iguanodont dinosaur genera and species . Cretaceous Research . 29 . 2 . 192–216 . 10.1016/j.cretres.2007.04.009.
5. Book: Paul, Gregory S.. The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs. 2016. Princeton University Press. 978-1-78684-190-2. 985402380. 319.