List of dinosaur specimens with documented taphonomic histories

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This list of dinosaur specimens with documented taphonomic histories enumerates those fossil dinosaur specimens that have been subjected to focused efforts aimed at reconstructing the events following the animal's death and the processes by which its remains were preserved in the fossil record.

Ankylosaurids

Taxon Nickname Catalogue number Institution Age Unit Country Description and Taphonomic History Images
Ankylosauridae indet. Not given MPC-D 100/1359 Mongolian Palaeontological Center Late Campanian Barun Goyot Formation  Mongolia Individual preserved in a resting posture with both forelimbs and hindlimbs folded and tucked underneath the torso. Feeding traces of invertebrates are also preserved on some elements.[1]

Nodosaurids

Taxon Nickname Catalogue number Institution Age Unit Country Description and Taphonomic History Images
Borealopelta markmitchelli Not given TMP 2011.033.0001 Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology Albian McMurray Formation  Canada Individual preserving armor in life position, keratin sheaths, skin impressions, and stomach contents. The carcass was likely washed out to sea after death and buried in the seafloor.[2][3]
Edmontonia rugosidens Not given AMNH 5665 American Museum of Natural History Middle Campanian Dinosaur Park Formation  Canada Exceptionally preserved articulated individual with skin impressions and armor in life position. The carcass was washed out to an aquatic setting, possibly a river channel, and buried.[4]

Ceratopsians

Psittacosaurids

Taxon Nickname Catalogue number Institution Age Unit Country Description and Taphonomic History Images
Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis Not given WZSSM VF000011 Weihai Ziguang Shi Yan School Museum Lower Aptian Yixian Formation  China Association of a P. lujiatunensis and a Repenomamus robustus locked in combat that were buried alive.[5]
Psittacosaurus sp. Not given DNHM D2156 Dalian Museum of Natural History Lower Aptian Yixian Formation  China Assemblage of 34 juveniles and one adult that were buried alive, possibly as a result of a collapsed burrow.[6]
Psittacosaurus sp. Not given IVPP V14341 Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Lower Aptian Yixian Formation  China Assemblage of six juveniles that succumbed to a mudflow.[7][8]
Psittacosaurus sp. Not given SMF R 4970 Senckenberg Museum Lower Aptian Yixian Formation  China Exceptionally preserved individual with numerous soft tissue impressions and color pattern.[9][10][11][12][13][14] After death, its right arm was possibly scavenged by a Tianyulong.[15]

Protoceratopsids

Taxon Nickname Catalogue number Institution Age Unit Country Description and Taphonomic History Images
Bagaceratops indet. Not given MPC-D 100/551B Mongolian Palaeontological Center Middle Campanian Djadokhta Formation  Mongolia Crouched individual that was scavenged after death by invertebrates.[16][17]
Protoceratops andrewsi Fighting Dinosaurs MPC-D 100/512 Mongolian Palaeontological Center Middle Campanian Djadokhta Formation  Mongolia Preserves Protoceratops andrewsi locked in combat with a Velociraptor mongoliensis.[18]
Protoceratops andrewsi Fox site Protoceratops Not given Not given Middle Campanian Djadokhta Formation  Mongolia Crouched individual that was extensively scavenged after death by invertebrates.[19]
Protoceratops andrewsi Not given MPC-D 100/526 Mongolian Palaeontological Center Middle Campanian Djadokhta Formation  Mongolia Group of four juveniles buried alive by a strong sand-bearing event. Scavenging traces are present among individuals.[20]
Protoceratops andrewsi Not given MPC-D 100/534 Mongolian Palaeontological Center Middle Campanian Djadokhta Formation  Mongolia Two sub-adults buried alive by a strong sand-bearing event. Scavenging traces are present among individuals.[20]
Protoceratops andrewsi Standing Protoceratops Not given Not given Middle Campanian Djadokhta Formation  Mongolia An individual preserved in an upright position,[21] possibly product of burrowing behavior.[22]

Ornithopods

Hadrosaurs

Taxon Nickname Catalogue number Institution Age Unit Country Description and Taphonomic History Images
Brachylophosaurus canadensis Leonardo JRF 115H Judith River Foundation Middle Campanian Judith River Formation  United States Exceptionally preserved individual that was rapidly covered with sediment after death.[23]
Edmontosaurus annectens Trachodon mummy AMNH 5060 American Museum of Natural History Late Maastrichtian Lance Formation  United States Well-preserved individual lying on its back with flexed limbs. After dehydration, the carcass likely was shortly buried by sediments transported by a river resulting in excellent preservation.[24][25]
Edmontosaurus annectens Senckenberg mummy SMF R 4036 Senckenberg Museum Late Maastrichtian Lance Formation  United States Individual preserved in a flexed posture. May have been quickly buried by sediments allowing exceptional preservation.[25][26]
Edmontosaurus sp. Dakota mummy NDGS 2000 North Dakota Geological Survey Late Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation  United States Individual preserved with extreme detail. The carcass was pierced by scavenging predators, allowing the release of gases, fluids, and microbes, allowing the dissecation and durability of soft tissues that persisted through weeks to months prior to burial and fossilization.[27]
Hadrosauridae indet. Lizzie 2000 P-02 University of Alaska Museum Middle Turonian Matanuska Formation  United States Partial remains of a juvenile. After death, the carcass was washed out to sea and sank to the seafloor where it got buried.[28]
Saurolophus angustirostris Not given MPC-D 100/764 Mongolian Palaeontological Center Late Campanian Nemegt Formation  Mongolia Block of partially articulated juveniles. After an unknown case of death, the individuals decomposed during a wet summer season when they got buried by sediments transported by a river channel.[29]

Theropods

References

External links

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