Cryptosaurus

hidden lizard

• kryptos · Greek · hidden, concealed
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name Cryptosaurus combines the Greek word 'kryptos' (hidden or concealed) with 'sauros' (lizard). It was likely chosen to reflect the fragmentary and obscure nature of the fossil material on which the genus was based, making it difficult to fully characterise the animal. The name essentially means 'hidden lizard', hinting at how little was known from the available remains.

Named by

Seeley

Year named

1875

Period

Late Jurassic

Stage

Oxfordian

Found in

England, UK

Cryptosaurus is generally regarded as a nomen dubium. It was named by Harry Seeley in 1875 on the basis of very fragmentary remains (a femur) from the Oxford Clay Formation of England. It is thought to be a sauropod or possibly an ankylosaur, but the material is too incomplete to allow confident classification or comparison with other genera. Some historical sources have considered it a possible synonym of other taxa, but no firm synonymy is currently accepted.