Nodosaunis textilis Marsh. 123 



Dimensions are minimum and were probably exceeded 

 in the perfect bone. 



Measurements of Spine-like Plate. 



mm. 



Preserved length 240 



Preserved width 110 



Preserved height 135 



Estimated height, ca 250 



Mr. Gilmore's statement that ^Hhese skin ossifications 

 in Hoplitosaurus present far more variety of form than 

 do those obtained with the remains of any American 

 dinosaur known at the present time" (1914, p. 120) no 

 longer holds, as Nodosaurus rivals it completely. They 

 may, however, be congeneric (see below). 



TAXONOMY AND RELATIONSHIPS. 



Superorder Dinosauria Owen. 



Order Ornithischia Seeley=Predentata Marsh. 



Suborder Stegosauria Marsh. Plated dinosaurs. 



Family NodosauridaB Marsh 1890. 



Family characteristics. — Quadrupedal dinosaurs with 

 hea^^ dermal armor, vertebrse somewhat procoelous or 

 amphiplatyan, with low neural arches, presacrals tending 

 to ankylose with each other and with the ribs. Ilia 

 broadened horizontally. Pelvis and posterior presacrals 

 united with the overlying armor to form a carapace; 

 limbs massive, fore limbs relatively large, digits -&ve in 

 manus and four in pes, terminating in broad unguals. 

 Distinguished from the Stegosauridse principally in that 

 the latter have upstanding armor plates and caudal 

 spines. 



Genera: Nodosaurus and Stegopelta, Benton, Creta- 

 ceous ; Hoplitosaurus, Dakota ; Hierosaunis, Niobrara ; 

 Anhylosaurus, Edmonton and Lance. Also a close ally, 

 if not actually included in the family, Polacanthus, of the 

 European Wealden. 



Re-definition of Nodosaurus Marsh. — Armor consisting 

 of nodule-bearing |)lates, intercostals, separated over the 

 torso by rows of smaller costal plates, armor of pelvis 

 apparently limited to sacral region, not extending over 

 the ilia. Oval keeled and spined plates, as well as 



