Zapsalis

very scissors (or shears)

• za- · Greek · intensifying prefix, 'very' or 'much'
• psalis · Greek · scissors or shears

The name combines the Greek intensifying prefix "za-" with "psalis", meaning scissors or shears. It most likely refers to the cutting, blade-like teeth on which the genus was based. Zapsalis is known only from isolated teeth.

Named by

Cope

Year named

1876

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Judith River Formation, Montana, USA

Based on isolated teeth, so it is generally treated as a dubious name (nomen dubium) of a small theropod, probably a dromaeosaurid or similar. The etymology and the exact stratigraphic details are given with moderate confidence.