Apatodon is a rare and uncertain type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 156 to 145 million years ago.
It belongs to a group of dinosaurs called theropods, which are known for being bipedal and often carnivorous. The only species of Apatodon is known as Apatodon mirus, and it was first named in 1877 by paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh.
The fossil of Apatodon was discovered in the Morrison Formation of Colorado, a famous site for dinosaur fossils.
When Marsh first found the fossil, he thought it was a jawbone from a pig-like animal. Later studies revealed that it was actually a part of a dinosaur vertebra. This misunderstanding was corrected by Baur in 1890.
Over the years, scientists have debated where Apatodon fits in the dinosaur family tree. It has been placed in several different groups, including Iguanodontoidea, Ornithischia, and Stegosauridae, but none of these classifications are completely agreed upon.
Currently, only one specimen of Apatodon exists, and it is too incomplete to clearly identify what kind of dinosaur it truly was. Some researchers suggest it could even be similar to the well-known Allosaurus. However, the original fossil has been lost, making it difficult to resolve these questions.
The name “Apatodon” comes from Greek words meaning “trick” or “deceit” and “tooth.” This reflects the confusion surrounding its initial identification.
In summary, Apatodon is a puzzling dinosaur that brings together mystery and excitement in the study of prehistoric life.