Scelidosaurus harrisonii from the Early Jurassic of Dorset, England: cranial anatomy

A detailed cranial anatomy of Scelidosaurus harrisonii, an early armored ornithischian dinosaur from the Late Sinemurian period, reveals unique features not previously documented. The study highlights the presence of exostoses on skull bones, which anchored keratinous scales, and describes a heterodont dentition with distinct tooth morphology and arrangement. Additionally, it identifies three osteoderms associated with the orbit and suggests the existence of a predentary element based on symphyseal structure. The research also notes unusual internal cranial features, such as epivomer bones and an epipterygoid attached to the pterygoid, along with evidence of cranial pneumatism in immature specimens. This comprehensive analysis, based on original material from 1858 and supplementary discoveries, provides new insights into the skull anatomy and evolutionary characteristics of this significant dinosaur.

Norman, D. B. (2019). Scelidosaurus harrisonii from the Early Jurassic of Dorset, England: cranial anatomy. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 188(1), 1–81. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz074