Protohadros

first hadrosaur

• proto · Greek · first
• hadros · Greek · stout, bulky

The name combines the Greek words for "first" and "stout" or "bulky". Hadros is the root of the name Hadrosaurus, and so of the hadrosaur family. "Protohadros" therefore means "first hadrosaur". It was chosen because this early duck-billed dinosaur was thought to be a primitive relative of the hadrosaurs.

Named by

Head

Year named

1998

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Cenomanian

Found in

Woodbine Formation, near Arlington, Texas, USA

Valid genus, known from the type species Protohadros byrdi. It is a basal hadrosauroid, a close relative of true hadrosaurs, and not a member of Hadrosauridae itself. It is known from skull and jaw material.