**Anabisetia**
Anabisetia is a genus of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 95 to 92 million years ago. It was found in Patagonia, South America. This dinosaur belonged to a group called ornithopods, which were typically small, two-legged herbivores. Anabisetia was about 2 meters long, which is around 6 feet and 7 inches, and weighed about 20 kilograms, similar to a large dog.
**Discovery**
The dinosaur was named in 2002 by Argentine paleontologists Rodolfo Coria and Jorge Orlando Calvo. The name “Anabisetia” honors Ana Maria Biset, an archaeologist from Argentina. The species name, “A. saldiviai,” is in recognition of Roberto Saldivia Blanco, a farmer who discovered the fossils in 1985 and brought them to the attention of scientists in 1993.
Four fossil specimens of Anabisetia have been found, all of which are stored at the Museo Carmen Funes in Plaza Huincul, Argentina. The most complete of these fossils includes parts of the skull, lower jaw, limbs, and several vertebrae. The fossils were discovered in an area called Cerro Bayo Mesa, which was part of a swamp during the time the dinosaur lived.
**Description**
Anabisetia was a small dinosaur that walked on two legs and ate plants. Some unique features of Anabisetia include:
– A downward-pointing bone at the back of its head.
– A shoulder blade with a notably large extension.
– A flattened fifth metatarsal bone in its hand, which was different from other dinosaurs.
– A special shape of its pelvic bones, allowing it to run and move effectively.
In 2010, a researcher named Gregory S. Paul estimated the length and weight of Anabisetia, noting how its unique characteristics helped scientists understand its way of life.
**Classification**
Scientists believe that Anabisetia is related to another dinosaur called Gasparinisaura, which also came from Patagonia. Because the skull of Anabisetia was not very complete, it is hard to determine its exact place in the dinosaur family tree. Originally, it was thought to be a part of a group of dinosaurs known as iguanodontians. However, later studies indicated it is part of a group called Elasmaria, which includes other dinosaurs from Antarctica and Patagonia.
In summary, Anabisetia is a fascinating dinosaur that showcases the diversity of life during the time of the dinosaurs, particularly in the region that is now Argentina.