{"product_id":"denversaurus-schlessmani","title":"Denversaurus schlessmani","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"656\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"30\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1\" data-end=\"29\"\u003eDenversaurus schlessmani\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e was a nodosaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America, known primarily from fossil remains recovered from the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota, as well as related material from equivalent units such as the Lance Formation. It lived during the latest Maastrichtian, approximately 68–66 million years ago, within the final terrestrial ecosystems of Laramidia before the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction event. Described by Robert T. Bakker in 1988, this taxon represents one of the last nodosaurids documented in North America and an especially significant armoured dinosaur within terminal Cretaceous faunas.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"658\" data-end=\"1315\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"658\" data-end=\"684\"\u003eDenversaurus schlessmani\u003c\/em\u003e belongs to Nodosauridae, the group of armoured ankylosaurian dinosaurs characterised by low, robust bodies, extensive dermal armour and the absence of a terminal tail club. Unlike ankylosaurids such as \u003cem data-start=\"887\" data-end=\"901\"\u003eAnkylosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e, which developed a large bony club at the end of the tail, nodosaurids relied primarily on their body armour, low profile, broad build and, in some cases, lateral spines or osteoderms for protection. The presence of nodosaurids in the Lance, Hell Creek and Laramie formations confirms that this group survived into the latest Maastrichtian, although apparently at lower abundance than in earlier Campanian faunas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1317\" data-end=\"2096\"\u003eThe type material of \u003cem data-start=\"1338\" data-end=\"1364\"\u003eDenversaurus schlessmani\u003c\/em\u003e includes a complete skull lacking the lower jaw, together with associated osteoderms, recovered from South Dakota. Its skull was broad, low and heavily ossified, with a rough external surface formed by fused cranial plates, a typical feature of armoured ankylosaurs. Compared with other nodosaurids, \u003cem data-start=\"1665\" data-end=\"1679\"\u003eDenversaurus\u003c\/em\u003e has been distinguished by particularly broad cranial proportions and a robust morphology, although some authors have suggested that part of this width may have been influenced by taphonomic deformation or compression of the fossil. A rigorous reconstruction should therefore depict it as a broad-headed and powerfully built nodosaurid while avoiding exaggeration of features that may result from fossil preservation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2098\" data-end=\"2767\"\u003eFrom a morphometric perspective, \u003cem data-start=\"2131\" data-end=\"2157\"\u003eDenversaurus schlessmani\u003c\/em\u003e was a medium- to large-sized quadrupedal herbivore within Nodosauridae. A cautious estimate places its body length at approximately 5–6 metres, with a relatively low hip height of around 1.2–1.5 metres and a body mass probably reaching several tonnes, depending on the individual and reconstruction method. Its body would have been broad, low and compact, supported by short, robust limbs, with a long tail lacking a terminal club. Its dermal armour consisted of osteoderms of different sizes distributed across the neck, back, flanks and part of the tail, producing a heavy and strongly protected silhouette.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2769\" data-end=\"3385\"\u003eAs a herbivore, \u003cem data-start=\"2785\" data-end=\"2811\"\u003eDenversaurus schlessmani\u003c\/em\u003e would probably have used an anterior keratinous beak and small teeth adapted for cropping and processing low-growing vegetation. Its low posture and broad skull suggest an animal specialised for feeding close to the ground, consuming ferns, herbaceous angiosperms, shoots, low leaves and other vegetation available in the floodplain environments of the latest Cretaceous. It would not have been a fast-moving animal, but rather a defensive herbivore protected by its body mass, low centre of gravity and extensive armour against large predators such as \u003cem data-start=\"3365\" data-end=\"3384\"\u003eTyrannosaurus rex\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3387\" data-end=\"4072\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"3387\" data-end=\"3401\"\u003eDenversaurus\u003c\/em\u003e inhabited rich and dynamic continental ecosystems composed of floodplains, river channels, riparian forests, wetlands and open areas. In these landscapes it lived alongside some of the most iconic dinosaurs of the North American Maastrichtian, including \u003cem data-start=\"3656\" data-end=\"3669\"\u003eTriceratops\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"3671\" data-end=\"3686\"\u003eEdmontosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"3688\" data-end=\"3708\"\u003ePachycephalosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"3710\" data-end=\"3724\"\u003eAnkylosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"3729\" data-end=\"3748\"\u003eTyrannosaurus rex\u003c\/em\u003e, as well as crocodyliforms, turtles, fishes, amphibians, mammals and early birds. Its presence in these final Cretaceous ecosystems demonstrates that nodosaurids, although less abundant and less famous than tail-club-bearing ankylosaurids, remained part of the diversity of armoured dinosaurs until the end of the Mesozoic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4074\" data-end=\"4121\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4074\" data-end=\"4121\"\u003eApproximate Denversaurus Replica Dimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4123\" data-end=\"4235\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4123\" data-end=\"4154\"\u003e1:35 Scale — Complete Model\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"4154\" data-end=\"4157\"\u003eLength: 137 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4171\" data-end=\"4174\"\u003eHeight: 43 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4187\" data-end=\"4190\"\u003eWidth: 55 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4202\" data-end=\"4205\"\u003eSnout-to-tail length: 157 mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4237\" data-end=\"4347\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4237\" data-end=\"4268\"\u003e1:20 Scale — Complete Model\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"4268\" data-end=\"4271\"\u003eLength: 240 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4285\" data-end=\"4288\"\u003eHeight: 75 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4301\" data-end=\"4304\"\u003eWidth: 96 mm\u003cbr data-start=\"4316\" data-end=\"4319\"\u003eSnout-to-tail length: 275 mm\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ps Arts","offers":[{"title":"1:35 \/ Sin imprimar","offer_id":62063724364044,"sku":"DC-1547-135-SINI","price":49.2,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Imprimado","offer_id":62063724396812,"sku":"DC-1547-135-IMPRI","price":56.2,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Pintado a mano","offer_id":62063724429580,"sku":"DC-1547-135-PINTA","price":160.6,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:20 \/ Sin imprimar","offer_id":62063724265740,"sku":"DC-1547-157-SINI","price":137.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:20 \/ Imprimado","offer_id":62063724298508,"sku":"DC-1547-157-IMPRI","price":149.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:20 \/ Pintado a mano","offer_id":62063724331276,"sku":"DC-1547-157-PINTA","price":302.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/1106\/7660\/files\/Denversaurus_3.jpg?v=1788285210","url":"https:\/\/dinosauriacreatures.com\/en\/products\/denversaurus-schlessmani","provider":"Dinosauria Creatures","version":"1.0","type":"link"}