{"product_id":"europelta-carbonensis","title":"Europelta carbonensis","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"565\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"25\"\u003eEuropelta carbonensis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e is a thyreophoran dinosaur belonging to Ankylosauria, considered one of the most basal nodosaurids known from Europe, which lived during the Early Cretaceous (early Aptian, approximately 113–110 million years ago) in what is now the \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eAragon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e region of \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eSpain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, specifically in the Escucha Formation. This taxon is the most complete ankylosaur described in Europe to date, which has allowed for a detailed anatomical analysis of its morphology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"567\" data-end=\"1025\"\u003eIt was a medium-sized quadrupedal dinosaur, with an estimated length of \u003cstrong data-start=\"650\" data-end=\"666\"\u003e4 to 5 meters\u003c\/strong\u003e and a weight close to \u003cstrong data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"704\"\u003e1–2 tons\u003c\/strong\u003e, characterized by a low, elongated body, adapted for stable and slow locomotion. The skull is relatively small in proportion to the body, with an elongated and low morphology, and exhibits primitive features within Nodosauridae, such as the arrangement of cranial osteoderms and the structure of the fenestrae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1636\"\u003eThe most distinctive feature of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1079\"\u003eEuropelta carbonensis\u003c\/strong\u003e is its dermal armor system. The body was covered by a combination of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1164\" data-end=\"1206\"\u003epolygonal osteoderms and bony plates\u003c\/strong\u003e, arranged in longitudinal rows along the back. Particularly noteworthy are the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1295\" data-end=\"1318\"\u003eshoulder spikes\u003c\/strong\u003e, long and laterally projected, which emerged from the pectoral girdle region and probably served defensive functions against predators. Unlike more derived ankylosaurids, \u003cem data-start=\"1545\" data-end=\"1556\"\u003eEuropelta\u003c\/em\u003e lacked a tail club, which is consistent with its assignment to Nodosauridae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1638\" data-end=\"2025\"\u003eThe postcranial skeleton shows robust and relatively short limbs, with solid long bones and joints adapted to support body weight. The vertebrae have solid centra and well-developed processes, with muscle attachments suggesting powerful musculature in the back and caudal region, probably related to armor support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2027\" data-end=\"2407\"\u003eThe masticatory apparatus is adapted for a low-browsing herbivorous diet, with a relatively narrow snout and small, leaf-shaped teeth, suitable for cutting soft to medium vegetation, such as ferns and early angiosperms. The absence of complex dental batteries indicates limited food processing compared to other more derived ornithischians.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2409\" data-end=\"2939\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eFrom a phylogenetic point of view, \u003cstrong data-start=\"2447\" data-end=\"2472\"\u003eEuropelta carbonensis\u003c\/strong\u003e occupies a basal position within Nodosauridae and is key to understanding the early radiation of ankylosaurs on the European continent, especially in an insular paleogeographic context during the Early Cretaceous. Its excellent degree of preservation has allowed for the identification of evolutionary patterns in dermal armor and cranial morphology, providing relevant information on the early diversification of thyreophorans in western Laurasia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate measurements of the Europelta:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1:35 Full Scale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength 98 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight 39 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth 63 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSnout-to-tail length 143 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1:20 Full Scale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength 170 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight 68 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth 110 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSnout-to-tail length 250 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Remote Times","offers":[{"title":"1:35 \/ Unprimed","offer_id":54752960807180,"sku":"DC-1370-135-SINI","price":46.56,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Primed","offer_id":54752960839948,"sku":"DC-1370-135-IMPRI","price":51.56,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Hand-painted","offer_id":54752960872716,"sku":"DC-1370-135-PINTA","price":148.2,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:20 \/ Unprimed","offer_id":54752960905484,"sku":"DC-1370-120-SINI","price":84.45,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:20 \/ Primed","offer_id":54752960938252,"sku":"DC-1370-120-IMPRI","price":91.45,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:20 \/ Hand-painted","offer_id":54752960971020,"sku":"DC-1370-120-PINTA","price":225.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/1106\/7660\/files\/Europelta_1.jpg?v=1775741774","url":"https:\/\/dinosauriacreatures.com\/en\/products\/europelta-carbonensis","provider":"Dinosauria Creatures","version":"1.0","type":"link"}