Hierosaurus

sacred lizard

• hieros · Greek · sacred, holy
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines the Greek words 'hieros' (sacred or holy) and 'sauros' (lizard), giving the meaning 'sacred lizard'. It was named by Eaton in 1905 after fossils found in Kansas. The 'sacred' element may reflect the reverence felt by the describer for the find, rather than referring to any specific physical feature or locality.

Named by

Eaton

Year named

1905

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Niobrara Formation, Kansas, USA

Hierosaurus is an ankylosaur (nodosaurid) from the Niobrara Formation of Kansas. It is generally regarded as a nomen dubium because the fragmentary nature of the type material makes it difficult to diagnose with confidence relative to other nodosaurids. Two species have been referred to this genus: H. coleii (the type) and H. sternbergii, though the latter has sometimes been placed in its own genus, Niobrarasaurus.