Spinophorosaurus

spine-bearing lizard

• spina · Latin · spine
• phoros · Greek · bearing, carrying
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines Latin "spina" (spine) with Greek "phoros" (bearing) and "sauros" (lizard), meaning "spine-bearing lizard". It refers to the pairs of spikes found with the original skeleton, which were first interpreted as tail spikes (a thagomizer-like arrangement) but may instead have been shoulder spines. The type species is S. nigerensis, named for Niger, where it was found.

Named by

Remes et al.

Year named

2009

Period

Middle Jurassic

Stages

Aalenian – Bajocian

Found in

Irhazer Group, near Agadez, Niger

A basal eusauropod (a long-necked sauropod). The exact age of the Irhazer Group deposits is uncertain; Middle Jurassic is commonly cited. The function of the spikes is debated.