Shamosaurus is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 115 million years ago. It was a herbivore, meaning it mainly ate plants.
**Discovery**
In 1977, scientists from a Soviet-Mongolian expedition found the remains of Shamosaurus in Mongolia. This discovery was significant because it was the first time an ankylosaur, a group of armored dinosaurs, was found in the Lower Cretaceous of this region.
The dinosaur was named Shamosaurus in 1983 by a scientist named Tatyana Tumanova. The name comes from the Mandarin words for “sand desert” because it was found in the Gobi Desert. Its species name, Shamosaurus scutatus, means “protected by a shield,” referring to its thick body armor.
The most complete fossils found include a skull, lower jaws, and some body parts with armor. These fossils are stored in a museum in Moscow.
**Description**
Shamosaurus was a medium-sized dinosaur.
Some estimates say it could grow to about 5 meters long, while others suggest it might reach up to 7 meters.
The skull of Shamosaurus is quite flat, with a beak at the front that had no teeth. The jaw joint was placed behind the eye socket, which is different from some other dinosaurs.
Shamosaurus had special body armor as well. It had neck protection made of two half rings with six segments each and flat, oval-shaped plates called scutes.
**Relation to Other Dinosaurs**
Shamosaurus is part of a family called Ankylosauridae. This family is known for their armor and club-like tails.
In research studies, Shamosaurus has been found to be closely related to another dinosaur named Gobisaurus, sharing several skull features.
Overall, Shamosaurus represents an important piece of the puzzle in understanding how armored dinosaurs evolved and lived in their environment.