Schleitheimia is a type of dinosaur that is now extinct. It lived during the Norian period, which was about 222 to 209 million years ago.
Schleitheimia is part of the sauropod group, which includes some of the largest dinosaurs like long-necked sauropods. The name “Schleitheimia” comes from Schleitheim, the place where its fossils were found. The main species of this dinosaur is called Schleitheimia schutzi, and it was named in 2020.
**Discovery of Schleitheimia**
The first fossils were collected between 1952 and 1954 by Emil Schutz. These fossils were later donated to the University of Zurich. For many years, paleontologists thought these bones belonged to a different dinosaur species called Plateosaurus.
In 2020, a team of scientists led by Oliver Rauhut studied the bones again. They discovered that these fossils actually belonged to a new type of dinosaur, which they named Schleitheimia schutzi, to honor both the location and the discoverer. Some additional fossils related to this dinosaur were also found in Switzerland in 2016.
The main fossil used to describe Schleitheimia is a piece of the hip bone, and it shows some unique features compared to other dinosaurs.
**Unique Features**
The hip bone of Schleitheimia has a wide, rounded ridge and a strong part called the fourth trochanter. There is also a special area on the femur, which is a bone in the leg, that has no shelf on its side.
**Classification**
Scientists who studied Schleitheimia believe it is closely related to the group of dinosaurs called Sauropoda, which includes many large herbivorous dinosaurs. This classification helps us understand where Schleitheimia fits in the family tree of dinosaurs.
In summary, Schleitheimia is an interesting dinosaur that lived long ago, and thanks to recent studies, we are learning more about its unique features and its place in the dinosaur world!