Dinosauria
Ornithischia
Cerapoda
Ornithopoda
Iguanodontia
Dryomorpha
Ankylopollexia
Styracosterna
Pronunciation: STIHR-a-ko-STUR-nuh
Author: Sereno
Year: 1986
Meaning: Spiked sternum (see etymology)
Locomotion: Bipedal and quadrupedal (2 or 4 legs)
Synonyms: Iguanodontidae?
Author: Sereno
Year: 1986
Meaning: Spiked sternum (see etymology)
Locomotion: Bipedal and quadrupedal (2 or 4 legs)
Synonyms: Iguanodontidae?
[Sereno, 2005]Definition
The most inclusive clade containing Parasaurolophus walkeri but not Camptosaurus dispar.
About
Styracosterna is a subgroup of Iguanodontia which contains the hadrosaurids and all dinosaurs more closely related to them than to camptosaurids. Styracosternans have five fingered "Swiss Army Hands" with three thick "hoof" ended middle fingers for switching from two to four leg-drive, an opposable little finger to grasp and manipulate food and spiked thumb claws for self-defence. They also have huge nostrils.
As far as non-sauropod herbivores go Styracosternans are right up there size-wise, measuring anything from six to twelve meters in length, and barring Camptosauridae (currently only Camptosaurus) they include exactly the same critters as Ankylopollexia.
Click here to view Dinochecker's A-Z list of Styracosternans.
Relationships
References
• Sereno PC (1986) "Phylogeny of the bird-hipped dinosaurs (order Ornithischia)". National Geographic Research. 2 (2): 234–56.
• McDonald AT (2012) "Phylogeny of Basal Iguanodonts (Dinosauria: Ornithischia): An Update". PLOS ONE. 7(5): e36745. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036745
