Planicoxa Facts
Pronunciation: PLAN-ih-COX-ah
Name meaning: Flat Hip
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 2m |
| Length | 5m |
| Weight | 500 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | North America |
Planicoxa was an advanced ornithopod dinosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of North America during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121 million years ago. This medium-sized herbivore lived in what is now Utah, where its fossilised remains were discovered in the Cedar Mountain Formation. Planicoxa represents an important evolutionary step between earlier iguanodonts and the later duck-billed hadrosaurs.
Measuring roughly 5 metres in length and standing about 2 metres tall at the hip, Planicoxa was a substantial ornithopod that could move on both two and four legs. Its name, meaning 'flat hip', refers to the distinctive shape of its hip bones, which helped palaeontologists recognise it as a separate genus. The dinosaur possessed the characteristic ornithopod features including a beak-like mouth for cropping vegetation and rows of grinding teeth for processing tough plant material.
As a herbivore, Planicoxa would have fed on the ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants that dominated Early Cretaceous ecosystems. Its advanced jaw structure suggests it was well-adapted to processing fibrous vegetation, making it an efficient browser in its ancient environment. The discovery of multiple partial skeletons has provided valuable insights into ornithopod evolution during this crucial period.
What made Planicoxa distinctive?
Planicoxa is characterised by its distinctively flattened hip bones, which give the dinosaur its name. It possessed the typical ornithopod body plan with a duck-like beak, powerful hind limbs for bipedal locomotion, and a long tail for balance.
Behaviour
Planicoxa likely lived in herds, as suggested by the discovery of multiple individuals in the same geological formation. It would have spent much of its time foraging for vegetation, using its beak to crop plants and its grinding teeth to process tough fibrous material.
Discovery
Planicoxa was first described by Tony DiCroce and Kenneth Carpenter in 1998. The original fossils were discovered at Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA.
Planicoxa FAQ
What did Planicoxa eat?
Planicoxa was a herbivore that fed on the plants available during the
Early Cretaceous period, including ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants. It used its beak-like mouth to crop vegetation and had rows of grinding teeth to process tough, fibrous plant material efficiently.
How big was Planicoxa?
Planicoxa was a medium-sized ornithopod, measuring approximately 5 metres in length and standing about 2 metres tall at the hip. It weighed an estimated 500 kilograms, making it substantially smaller than giants like
Iguanodon but still a sizeable dinosaur.
When did Planicoxa live?
Planicoxa lived during the
Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121.4 million years ago. This places it in an important time period when ornithopod dinosaurs were diversifying and evolving new adaptations.
Where was Planicoxa found?
Planicoxa fossils were discovered in Utah, United States, specifically in the Cedar Mountain Formation. This geological formation is famous for preserving numerous
Early Cretaceous dinosaur species and provides important insights into ancient ecosystems.
How do you pronounce Planicoxa?
Planicoxa is pronounced 'PLAN-ih-COX-ah', with emphasis on the first syllable. The name comes from Latin words meaning 'flat hip', referring to the dinosaur's distinctive pelvic structure.
What does Planicoxa mean?
Planicoxa means 'flat hip' in Latin, referring to the distinctive flattened shape of the dinosaur's hip bones. This unique pelvic structure was one of the key features that helped palaeontologists recognise it as a separate genus.
How fast could Planicoxa run?
The exact running speed of Planicoxa is unknown, as estimates require more complete leg bone measurements than are currently available. However, as a medium-sized ornithopod with powerful hind limbs, it was likely capable of reasonable speed when escaping predators.
What type of dinosaur was Planicoxa?
Planicoxa was an ornithopod dinosaur, specifically an advanced iguanodontian. Ornithopods were herbivorous dinosaurs known for their bird-like hips and ability to walk on both two and four legs.
Was Planicoxa related to birds?
Planicoxa was not directly related to birds. As an ornithopod, it belonged to a different major group of dinosaurs than theropods, which are the dinosaurs that gave rise to modern birds. However, all dinosaurs, including Planicoxa, share a common ancestor with birds.
How many Planicoxa fossils have been found?
Several partial skeletons of Planicoxa have been discovered, representing multiple individual dinosaurs. The exact number isn't specified in scientific literature, but having multiple specimens has been crucial for understanding this dinosaur's anatomy and evolutionary relationships.
