Organism · Dinosaurs
Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum
Fossil record age bounds · ≈ 152–145 Ma
Inferred life reconstruction
Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum
Overview
Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum was an armored dinosaur of Late Jurassic North America. Its elongated skull and armor plates on the neck and trunk have been studied. It invites us to broaden our gaze from the head to the hard structures covering the body.[1]
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Key facts
Studying armored dinosaurs does not end with their armor plates. Research on the pelvis of Gargoyleosaurus also explored the origin and evolution of armored dinosaur pelves. Questions expand from external plates to the bones supporting the body.[2]
Time and place
It is studied from Late Jurassic fossils from Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The Jurassic as a whole spans approximately 200–143 million years ago. This dinosaur provides clues to North American armored dinosaurs in the later part of that period.[1][3]
The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.
Size, form and skeleton
The holotype includes a skull, partial skeleton, and armor plates. Its elongated head and the plates on the neck and trunk can be examined as distinct body regions. A separately referred pelvis was also used to compare body structure.[1][2]
The Natural History Museum in London gives a body length of about 4 m in its account of the genus Gargoyleosaurus.[4]
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Habitat and reproduction
What different information can the armor plates and pelvis provide? One reveals hard external structures; the other shows the skeleton supporting the body. Gargoyleosaurus illustrates how several body regions contribute to understanding armored dinosaurs.[1][2]
Fossil discovery
A redescription reexamined the holotype’s skull, partial skeleton, and armor plates. A separate pelvic study compared changes in armored dinosaur pelves. Studies of different specimens broaden our view of one species.[1][2]
References
- Redescription study of Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum
- Study of the pelvis of Gargoyleosaurus and pelvic evolution in armoured dinosaurs
- International Commission on Stratigraphy (2024) — Geological time chart
- Natural History Museum, London — Gargoyleosaurus
- Marsh & Rowe (2020) — Reassessment of the anatomy and relationships of Dilophosaurus
- University of Texas (2020) — New stories of a movie dinosaur and its fossils
Research questions
How did the pelvis of armored dinosaurs change through evolution? Research on the Gargoyleosaurus pelvis pursues that question through comparisons with other armored dinosaurs. One body region becomes a starting point for asking about the history of a broader dinosaur group.[2]
Observation
Move your gaze from the elongated head to the armor plates on the neck and trunk. Then consider the location of the pelvis to understand the external armor together with the internal skeleton.[1][2]
Related organisms
Dilophosaurus wetherilliDinosaursSource time context (not species duration) · ≈ 201–143 MaDifferent bodies among dinosaurs
Compare the bodies and backgrounds of Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum and Dilophosaurus. Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum: an armored dinosaur of Late Jurassic North America, studied from its elongated skull and armor plates on the neck and trunk. Dilophosaurus: Dilophosaurus wetherilli was a large carnivorous dinosaur with a pair of head crests. The nasal and lacrimal bones join to form its distinctive head outline.