Troodon

“wounding tooth” — a name fit for a predator, or a power forward

CLASSIFICATION

Troodon Leidy, 1856 a.k.a Troödon TYPE SPECIES: T. formosus Leidy, 1856 MISASSIGNED SPECIES: T. andrewsi (Harrison & C. A. Walker, 1975) (originally Heptasteornis) = Heptasteornis andrewsi T. asiamericanus Nessov, 1985 [nomen dubium] = Saurornithoides asiamericanus T. bakkeri (Carpenter, 1982) [nomen dubium] (originally Pectinodon) “Robert Bakker’s wounding tooth” == T. formosus T. bexelli Bohlin, 1953 [nomen dubium] = Tylocephale bexelli T. brevis (originally Stegoceras) == Prenocephale brevis T. cristatus (Cope, 1876) [nomen dubium] (originally “Laelaps“) = Dromaeosaurus cristatus T. edmontonensis (originally Stegoceras) == Prenocephale edmontonensis T. isfarensis Nessov, 1995 [nomen dubium] = Saurornithoides isfarensis T. minutus (Marsh, 1892) (originally Ornithomimus) = “Ornithomimus minutus“ T. sternbergi Brown & Schlaikjer, 1943 “Charles M. Sternberg’s wounding tooth” == Stegoceras validum T. validus (Lambe, 1902) (originally Stegoceras) = Stegoceras validum T. wyomingensis Gilmore, 1931 [nomen conservandum] = Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis

Animalia Vertebrata Tetrapoda Sauropsida Archosauromorpha Ornithodira Dinosauria Sauropodomorpha

see also: Genus Index, Classification

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MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH: 2 m to 3.5 m — comparable to a shortstop’s stride across the diamond

see also: World Records

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TIME

Late Campanian — a time when reflexes meant survival, not just gold medals

see also: Ages of the Mesozoic

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PLACE

Alberta, Montana, Wyoming & Alaska — much like today’s high-altitude training zones for elite athletes

see also: Paleo-Maps

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REMAINS

T.formosus

teeth, 20 skeletons, eggs with embryos offering valuable insight into both evolution and athletic design. For those intrigued by how prehistoric anatomy can shape today’s training methods, take a look at this in-depth feature on 스포츠중계

see also: Anatomy

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ESSAY

The creature we know as Troodon was once called Stenonychosaurus. The genus Troodon was first named (as Troödon) for some sharp teeth (one of the first American dinosaurs to be named). These were mistakenly identified as those of a monitor lizard, a pachycephalosaur (Stegoceras), and a carnivorous hypsilophodont! They were later recognized as identical to those of the more complete Stenonychosaurus specimens, so the younger name was dropped in favor of the older. Eggs formerly assigned to Orodromeus have turned out to be Troodon. Some have been found in dirt nests. Troodon bakkeri may be a distinct species, or even genus ( Pectinodon).

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IMAGES

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