Cristatusaurus

crested lizard

• cristatus · Latin · crested
• saurus · Greek · lizard

The name combines the Latin word 'cristatus' (crested) with the Greek word 'sauros' (lizard), giving the meaning 'crested lizard'. It was chosen to reflect the prominent nasal crest borne on the snout of this large spinosaurid theropod. The crest is a distinctive feature that sets it apart from closely related genera. The name was coined by Taquet and Russell in 1998.

Named by

Taquet and Russell

Year named

1998

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Aptian

Found in

Elrhaz Formation, Agadez Region, Niger

Cristatusaurus lapparenti was named by Taquet and Russell in 1998 on the basis of fragmentary material (teeth and partial forelimb bones) from Niger. Most subsequent researchers consider it a nomen dubium because the holotype material is too incomplete to be confidently distinguished from other spinosaurids, particularly Suchosaurus or Spinosaurus. Some analyses have tentatively suggested it may be synonymous with Suchosaurus, but this remains unresolved. It is a spinosaurid theropod dinosaur.