Incisivosaurus

incisor lizard

• incisivus · Latin · incisor, cutting tooth
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines the Latin "incisivus" (incisor) with the Greek "sauros" (lizard). It refers to the pair of large, prominent, rodent- or rabbit-like front incisors in the upper jaw of the skull. These teeth, together with its otherwise toothless-looking cheek region, suggested a plant-eating or omnivorous diet unusual for an oviraptorosaur.

Named by

Xu et al.

Year named

2002

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Barremian

Found in

Yixian Formation, Liaoning, China

A basal oviraptorosaur theropod; the type species is Incisivosaurus gauthieri. Known from a skull and partial skeleton material.