Koutalisaurus Facts
Pronunciation: koo-TAL-ih-SORE-us
Name meaning: Spoon Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 8m |
| Weight | 3 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | Spain |
Koutalisaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, between 72 and 66 million years ago. This herbivorous dinosaur roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now Spain, making it one of the few hadrosaurid dinosaurs known from Europe during this time period.
Based on the available fossil evidence - primarily a well-preserved lower jaw bone - Koutalisaurus would have been a substantial creature, estimated to reach lengths of around 8 metres and standing approximately 3 metres tall at the hip. Like other members of its group, it possessed the characteristic duck-like bill that ornithopods are famous for, perfectly adapted for cropping and processing plant material.
The dinosaur's fossils were discovered in the Tremp Formation near Abella de la Conca in Lleida Province, Spain. This geological formation has yielded several important Late Cretaceous dinosaur remains, providing valuable insights into European dinosaur communities just before the mass extinction event that ended the age of dinosaurs.
However, Koutalisaurus remains somewhat mysterious due to the limited fossil material available. The classification is considered dubious by many palaeontologists, as definitive identification requires more complete skeletal remains than the single dentary that forms the basis of this genus.
What made Koutalisaurus distinctive?
Koutalisaurus possessed a robust lower jaw bone with distinctive dental features typical of hadrosaurid ornithopods. The dentary shows characteristics suggesting it had the typical duck-bill structure common to its group, with batteries of small grinding teeth for processing tough plant material.
Behaviour
Like other ornithopods, Koutalisaurus would have been capable of moving on both two and four legs, switching between bipedal locomotion for faster movement and quadrupedal stance whilst feeding. It likely lived in herds and used its sophisticated dental batteries to process tough Cretaceous vegetation including ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants.
Discovery
Koutalisaurus was first described by Prieto-Márquez et al. in 2007. The original fossils were discovered at Tremp Formation, Abella de la Conca, Lleida, Spain.
Koutalisaurus FAQ
What did Koutalisaurus eat?
Koutalisaurus was a herbivore that fed on
Late Cretaceous plants. It would have used its duck-like bill to crop vegetation and its batteries of small grinding teeth to process tough plant material including ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants that were becoming more common during this period.
How big was Koutalisaurus?
Koutalisaurus is estimated to have been around 8 metres long and stood approximately 3 metres tall at the hip, weighing roughly 3 tonnes. However, these estimates are based on limited fossil material, so the actual size may have varied.
When did Koutalisaurus live?
Koutalisaurus lived during the
Late Cretaceous period, specifically during the Maastrichtian age, between approximately 72 and 66 million years ago. This means it was one of the last dinosaurs before the mass extinction event.
Where was Koutalisaurus found?
Koutalisaurus was discovered in Spain, specifically in the Tremp Formation near the town of Abella de la Conca in Lleida Province. This makes it one of the relatively few hadrosaurid dinosaurs known from Europe.
How do you pronounce Koutalisaurus?
Koutalisaurus is pronounced 'koo-TAL-ih-SORE-us', with the emphasis on the second syllable 'TAL'. The name comes from Greek and Latin roots meaning 'spoon lizard'.
What does Koutalisaurus mean?
Koutalisaurus means 'spoon lizard' in Greek and Latin. This name refers to the spoon-like shape of certain features observed in the dinosaur's jaw bone, which was the primary fossil used to describe this genus.
How fast could Koutalisaurus run?
The running speed of Koutalisaurus is unknown due to the limited fossil material available. However, based on related ornithopods, it could likely achieve moderate speeds when moving bipedally, possibly for escaping predators.
What type of dinosaur was Koutalisaurus?
Koutalisaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur, specifically classified within the hadrosaurid family. However, its classification is considered dubious by many scientists due to the limited fossil evidence consisting mainly of a single lower jaw bone.
Was Koutalisaurus related to birds?
As an ornithopod dinosaur, Koutalisaurus was not directly ancestral to birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Koutalisaurus belonged to the ornithischian group. However, all dinosaurs, including Koutalisaurus, share a common ancestor with birds.
How many Koutalisaurus fossils have been found?
Very few fossils of Koutalisaurus have been found - the genus is based primarily on a single, mostly complete lower jaw bone (dentary). This limited fossil material is why many palaeontologists consider Koutalisaurus a dubious genus that requires more evidence for definitive classification.
