Pronunciation: bish-ehk-tee-pel-tuh
Meaning: Bissekty Formation Shield
Author/s: Parish and Barrett (2002)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Dzharakuduk, Uzbekistan
Discovery Chart Position: #506
Bissektipelta archibaldi
Bissektipelta is based on a braincase and skull roof from the Kyzyl
kum Desert that Averianov assigned to Amtosaurus as a second species—Amtosaurus archibaldi— in 2002. A mere two years later, Parish and Barrett declared that the Amtosaurus name-bearer—Amtosaurus magnus—was a dubious critter based on undiognostic remains and in no position to be accepting new species, so they nabbed the valid fossils of Amtosaurus archibaldi and used them to anchor Bissektipelta, whilst retaining the original epithet.
To date, Bissektipelta is the only confirmed ankylosaurid from Uzbekistan and one of the few from anywhere with three separate braincase exit points for the hypoglossal nerve which drives tongue movement. But what makes it unique amongst ankylosaurs are a trio of caputegulum (skull tiles) on its skull roof that are larger than those found on the few other ankylosaurs that have them, and are separated by grooves that form a distinctive Y-shape.
To date, Bissektipelta is the only confirmed ankylosaurid from Uzbekistan and one of the few from anywhere with three separate braincase exit points for the hypoglossal nerve which drives tongue movement. But what makes it unique amongst ankylosaurs are a trio of caputegulum (skull tiles) on its skull roof that are larger than those found on the few other ankylosaurs that have them, and are separated by grooves that form a distinctive Y-shape.
(Archibald's Bissekty Lizard)Etymology
Bissektipelta is derived from "Bissekty" (see discovery) and the Greek "pelte" (shield), so named for the armour which ankylosaurids are renowned for.The species epithet, archibaldi, is named for professor David Archibald, in recognition of his work on Late Cretaceous vertebrates from Central Asia. ZooBank registry: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BBCA7CA1-B19F-44C6-BA26-CC36E2413A2F.
Discovery
The remains of Bissektipelta were discovered at Dzharakuduk in the Bissekty Formation, Navoi Viloyat (Navoi Province), Uzbekistan, by the joint Usbek-Russian-British-American-Canadian (Urbac) Project in September 1998.
The holotype (ZIN PH 1/6) is a braincase and incomplete skull roof, along with isolated teeth and osteoderms.
