Mymoorapelta Facts
Pronunciation: MY-moo-ra-PEL-ta
Name meaning: Mygatt-Moore shield
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1m |
| Length | 4m |
| Weight | 1 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | United States |
Mymoorapelta was an early ankylosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 155-149 million years ago. This armoured herbivore roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now western Colorado and central Utah in the United States. Along with Gargoyleosaurus, Mymoorapelta represents one of the earliest known members of the ankylosaur group, providing crucial insights into the early evolution of these heavily armoured dinosaurs.
Measuring about 4 metres in length and standing roughly 1 metre tall at the hip, Mymoorapelta was a medium-sized ankylosaur with a robust, low-slung body typical of its kind. Its most distinctive feature was the array of bony armour plates called osteoderms that covered its back and sides, providing protection from predators. Unlike later ankylosaurs, Mymoorapelta lacked the massive tail club that would become characteristic of many later species in this group.
As a herbivore, Mymoorapelta would have fed on the abundant plant life of the Late Jurassic, including ferns, cycads, and conifers. Its low-slung build and relatively small head suggest it was well-adapted for browsing on low-growing vegetation. The dinosaur's teeth were small and leaf-shaped, perfect for cropping and processing tough plant material.
Our knowledge of Mymoorapelta comes from relatively few fossil specimens, with the most complete being the holotype from the famous Mygatt-Moore Quarry. This specimen includes parts of the skull, vertebrae, and numerous osteoderms, giving palaeontologists valuable information about this early ankylosaur's anatomy and lifestyle.
What made Mymoorapelta distinctive?
Mymoorapelta was distinguished by its covering of bony armour plates (osteoderms) across its back and sides, typical of early ankylosaurs. Unlike later relatives, it lacked a tail club and had a relatively simple arrangement of defensive spikes and plates.
Behaviour
Mymoorapelta likely lived a relatively solitary lifestyle, spending most of its time foraging for low-growing plants with its head close to the ground. When threatened by predators, it would have relied on its armoured hide for protection, possibly crouching down to present an impenetrable shield of bony plates to attackers.
Discovery
Mymoorapelta was first described by James Kirkland and Kenneth Carpenter in 1994. The original fossils were discovered at Mygatt-Moore Quarry, Colorado, USA.
Mymoorapelta FAQ
What did Mymoorapelta eat?
Mymoorapelta was a herbivore that fed on the plant life available during the
Late Jurassic period. Its diet would have consisted mainly of ferns, cycads, conifers, and other low-growing vegetation. Its small, leaf-shaped teeth were perfectly adapted for cropping and processing tough plant material.
How big was Mymoorapelta?
Mymoorapelta was a medium-sized ankylosaur, measuring approximately 4 metres in length and standing about 1 metre tall at the hip. It weighed roughly 1 tonne, making it considerably smaller than later ankylosaurs like
Ankylosaurus.
When did Mymoorapelta live?
Mymoorapelta lived during the
Late Jurassic period, approximately 154.8 to 149.2 million years ago. This makes it one of the earliest known ankylosaurs, providing important insights into the early evolution of armoured dinosaurs.
Where was Mymoorapelta found?
Mymoorapelta fossils have been discovered in the Morrison Formation of western Colorado and central Utah in the United States. The most complete specimen comes from the famous Mygatt-Moore Quarry in Colorado, after which the dinosaur is named.
How do you pronounce Mymoorapelta?
Mymoorapelta is pronounced 'MY-moo-ra-PEL-ta'. The name combines 'Mymoor' (referring to the Mygatt-Moore Quarry) with 'pelta', which means shield in Latin.
What does Mymoorapelta mean?
Mymoorapelta means 'Mygatt-Moore shield'. The name honours the Mygatt-Moore Quarry where the dinosaur was discovered, combined with the Latin word 'pelta' meaning shield, referring to its armoured nature.
How fast could Mymoorapelta run?
The running speed of Mymoorapelta is unknown, but like other ankylosaurs, it was likely quite slow due to its heavy armour and low-slung body build. It would have relied on its defensive armour rather than speed to avoid predators.
What type of dinosaur was Mymoorapelta?
Mymoorapelta was an ankylosaur, specifically belonging to the nodosaurid family. It was one of the earliest known ankylosaurs, living during the
Late Jurassic period and helping scientists understand how these armoured dinosaurs evolved.
Was Mymoorapelta related to birds?
Mymoorapelta was not closely related to birds. As an ankylosaur, it belonged to the ornithischian (bird-hipped) dinosaurs, but this group is not actually ancestral to modern birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, which were saurischian (lizard-hipped) dinosaurs.
How many Mymoorapelta fossils have been found?
Very few Mymoorapelta specimens are known to science. The most complete is the holotype specimen from the Mygatt-Moore Quarry, which includes osteoderms, a partial skull, vertebrae, and other bones. Only a handful of other fragmentary remains have been discovered.
