Aletopelta is a type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago, about 75.5 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. Its name means “wanderer shield,” which refers to its unique body armor.
Aletopelta was first discovered in Southern California, specifically from a place called the Point Loma Formation. The only species of this dinosaur is called Aletopelta coombsi.
The skeleton discovered was not complete, but it included some bones and armor, called osteoderms. This dinosaur was relatively large, estimated to be about 5 meters long, which is about 16 feet, and it weighed around 2 tonnes, or about 4,409 pounds.
Discovery and Name
In 1987, during some construction work for a sewage pipe in Carlsbad, California, workers found a dinosaur skeleton. The San Diego Natural History Museum quickly acquired the bones. It was initially called the “Carlsbad Ankylosaur.” Later, in 2001, scientists Tracy Ford and James Kirkland officially named it Aletopelta coombsi in honor of Walter Coombs, a notable paleontologist who contributed to its study.
The skeleton is thought to have been a bloated carcass that sank to the bottom of the sea and became a small reef where other marine creatures lived. This can be seen by the way some shells were found attached to its bones, showing it was a home to other sea life.
Appearance and Features
Aletopelta had an armored body covered with bony plates for protection. Scientists have identified some key characteristics of this dinosaur. These include:
– Teeth that are wider than they are tall.
– Long femur bones, which are the thigh bones.
– A unique pelvic shield made of armor plates.
– Spikes on its shoulders and thin, hollow armor on its back.
This dinosaur’s unique armor and shape distinguished it from other similar dinosaurs.
Classification
Initially, there was some confusion about what type of dinosaur Aletopelta was. Some researchers thought it belonged to a group called nodosaurids. However, further studies classified Aletopelta within the ankylosaurs, another group of heavily armored dinosaurs.
Through various studies, scientists discovered that Aletopelta is similar to other ankylosaurs but has its own unique traits that make it special.
In summary, Aletopelta is an interesting dinosaur with a rich history. Its discovery has helped scientists learn more about the diversity and life of dinosaurs that existed millions of years ago.