Dinosauria Translation and Pronunciation Guide N

Ben Creisler

Naashoibitosaurus Hunt & Lucas 1993 "Naashoibito lizard"

nah-ah-sho-ee-BEE-to-SAWR-us (Naashoibito (from Navajo na'asho'i bito'i "lizard creek") + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named for the Naashoibito Member of the Kirtland Formation, New Mexico, that yielded the holotype; proposed for a skull distinguished by a nasal arch and attributed to Kritosaurus navajovius by Jack Horner in 1992. Ornithopoda Hadrosauridae Hadrosaurinae L. Cret. NA.

Nanyangosaurus Xu, Zhao, Lu, Huang, Li & Dong 2000 "Nanyang lizard"

nahn-yahng-o-SAWR-us (Chin. Nanyang + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named to indicate a dinosaur found near the city of Nanyang in Henan Province, east central China. Nanyangosaurus is a medium-size iguanodont, known from a partial skeleton of an adult animal (Holotype: IVPP V 11821 (Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing)), including 8 dorsal and 36 caudal vertebrae, a complete sacrum with 6 true sacral vertebrae, a partial ischium, a nearly complete forelimb and a nearly complete hindlimb. The specimen was found in the Early Cretaceous (?Albian) Sanping Formation, in the Xiaguan redbeds, Neixiang County, Henan Province. The vertebrae of Nanyangosaurus are more like those of non-hadrosaurid iguanodontians (it has only 6 true sacrals rather than at least 7), but the caudal neural spines are larger than the caudal chevrons and both the front and hind limbs have features similar to those of true hadrosaurs. Nanyangosaurus was probably around 4.5 m (15 ft) long and 1.5 m (5 ft) high at the hips.

Type species: Nanyangosaurus zhugeii [joo-GUH-ee-ie] Xu, Zhao, Lu, Huang, Li & Dong 2000: for Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD), a famous ancient military strategist and legalist politician who lived in Nanyang for a long time; he became chief councillor to Liu Bei, ruler of the southwestern kingdom of Shu Han at Chengdu. Ornithopoda Iguanodontia i.s. Early Cretaceous (?Albian) China [added 12-2000]

Nomingia Barsbold, Osmolska, Watabe, Currie & Tsogtbaatar 2000 "for Nomingiin (Gobi)"

no-MING-gee-uh (Noming(iin) (from Mongolian nomin "lazurite") + -ia) (f) named for the Nomingiin Gobi, "a part of the Gobi Desert close to the type locality" in the southwest of Mongolia. Nomingia is a medium-sized oviraptorosaur known from an incomplete postcranial skeleton (Holotype: GIN 100/119 (Institute of Geology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulan Bator)), including a continuous series of vertebrae (13 presacrals, 5 synsacrals, 24 caudals), complete pelvis, fragmentary thoracic ribs, gastralia, left femur, and both tibiae and fibulae (tibia 24% longer than the femur). Its most striking feature is the very short tail ending in a dagger-like pygostyle formed from the fusion of the last 5 vertebrae--the shortest non-avian dinosaur tail (24 vertebrae) known and the first with a pygostyle. Nomingia is identified as an oviraptorosaur based on the pneumatized centra of the proximal tail vertebrae, deep hypapophyses on the underside of least 3 anterior dorsal vertebrae, and the posteriorly concave profile of the ischium. The shape of the ilium sets it apart from other known oviraptorosaurs; the straight pubic shaft distinguishes it from members of the family Oviraptoridae. The shapes of the ilium, pubis and ischium suggest Nomingia may be closer to Chirostenotes than to any other oviraptorosaurs, but reliable comparisons are not possible without better material for taxa in the family Caenagnathidae. Assuming it resembled other known oviraptorosaurs other than for its unusually short tail, Nomingia was probably around 1.7 m (5.6 ft) long, and about .9 m (3 ft) high at the hip. Since the feathered dinosaur Caudipteryx may be related to oviraptors, it is possible Nomingia may have had a fan of feathers on its pygostyle--no evidence of feathers was preserved with the fossil, however.

Type Species: Nomingia gobiensis [goh-bee-EN-sis] Barsbold, Osmolska, Watabe, Currie & Tsogtbaatar 2000: "from the Gobi" to indicate a fossil found in the Gobi Desert, at Bugin Tsav, Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia, in the Late Cretaceous Bugeen Tsav Beds (?upper Campanian and ?lower Maastrichtian). Theropoda Oviraptorosauria i.s. Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) Mongolia [added 8/2000]

Nanosaurus Marsh 1877 "pygmy lizard"

NAN-o-SAWR-us (Gr. nanos "pygmy" + Gr. sauros "lizard")* (m) named to indicate "the most diminutive Dinosaur yet discovered...an animal not larger than a cat, and yet apparently fully adult." Ornithopoda L. Jur. NA. [nomen dubium]

Nanotyrannus Bakker, Williams & Currie 1988 "pygmy tyrant"

NAN-o-ti-RAN-us (Gr. nanos "dwarf, pygmy" + Gr. tyrannos "king") (m) named for its relatively small size compared to other tyrannosaurs; considered a juvenile specimen of some known genus of tyrannosaur by some researchers. Theropoda Coelurosauria Tyrannosauridae L. Cret. NA.

Nanshiungosaurus Dong 1979 "Nanxiong (China) lizard"

NAHN-SHYUNG-o-SAWR-us (for Nanhsiung [= Nanxiong] + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named for the Nanxiong [Nanhsiung] Formation in Guangdong Province, China, where the fossil was found in the Nanxiong Basin. Theropoda Segnosauria i.s. L. Cret. China

Nedcolbertia Kirkland, Britt, Whittle, Madsen & Burge 1998 "for Ned Colbert"

ned-kohl-BER-tee-a (Ned + Colbert + -ia)(f) named to honor Edwin Harris Colbert "one of the foremost dinosaur paleontologists of the twentieth century. Dr. Colbert is known as Ned to his friends and has conducted much significant research on small theropod dinosaurs." Nedcolbertia is a small coelurosaur known from three partial skeletons without skulls (a juvenile (the holotype CEUM 5071) and two subadults) found in the basal Yellow Cat Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation (Barremian). Parts of the specimens such as the forelimbs and ischium are too incomplete or poorly preserved to permit a close comparison with better known small theropods, making a more precise classification difficult. In general, though, Nedcolbertia appears to resemble and may be related to the Late Jurassic Ornitholestes. Unlike in Ornitholestes, the claws on its slender hand are differentiated, the manual claw on the first finger being more robust and raptorial; its pubis and the metatarsals in its feet are distinct in some details as well. The dorsal vertebrae contain simple large air sacks (unlike in ornithomimids, tyrannosaurs and troodontids, which lack pleurocels in the dorsals). Its hind legs are long and slender, indicating an agile running animal, but lack the "slashing" second claw found in dromaeosaurids and troodontids. Adults are estimated at about 3 meters (10 feet) long.

Type species: Nedcolbertia justinhoffmanni [jus-tin-HOF-man-ie] Kirkland, Britt, Whittle, Madsen & Burge 1998, named for "Justin Hofmann, a young boy from New Jersey, for his love of dinosaurs. The teaming of these two in the name of this small dinosaur is appropriate, as the many popular dinosaur books written by Ned Colbert were a major influence for several generations of budding dinosaur paleontologists."

Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Early Cretaceous (Barremian) NA. [entry added 11-98]

Nemegtosaurus Nowinski 1971 "Nemegt (Mongolia) lizard"

NAY-meg-to-SAWR-us (Nemegt + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named for the Nemegt Basin, in southern Mongolia, where the fossils were first found. Sauropoda Nemegtosauridae L. Cret. Mongolia

Neosaurus Gilmore & Stewart 1945 "unique lizard"

NEE-o-SAWR-us (Gr. neos "new, unexpected" + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) referring to the geographical and geological uniqueness of the fossil: a caudal vertebra of a supposed sauropod from the Cretaceous of Missouri that "in the ordinary course of events would be considered too meager for generic designation"

(Preoccupied by Neosaurus Nopsca 1923. See Parrosaurus.)

Neosodon de la Moussaye 1885 "new kind of tooth"

nee-OH-so-don (irr. Gr. neos "new, unexpected" + Gr. odon "tooth") (m) named for a previously unknown, supposedly "omnivorous" type of dinosaur with teeth resembling those of both Megalosaurus and Iguanodon; actually a sauropod tooth. Sauropoda Brachiosauridae L. Jur. Eur. [nomen dubium]

Neovenator Hutt, Martill & Barker 1996 "new hunter"

NEE-oh-ve-NAY-tor (Gr. neos "new" + Lat. venator "hunter") (m) named to indicate a new genus of theropod (member of the Neotetanurae) found on the Isle of Wight, England; known from a fairly complete specimen belonging to a gracile animal 7.5 m (25 ft.) long with similiarities to Allosaurus and Sinraptor, and thus the first undisputed allosauroid from Europe. Theropoda Tetanurae Neotetanurae Allosauroidea ?Allosauridae E. Cret. Eur.

Neuquensaurus Powell 1992 "Neuquén (Argentina) lizard"

nayoo-ken-SAWR-us (Neuquén + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named to indicate a large sauropod ("Titanosaurus" australis Lydekker 1893) found in Neuquén Province, Argentina. Sauropoda Titanosauridae L. Cret. SA.

Nigersaurus Sereno, Beck, Dutheil, Larsson, Lyon, Moussa, Sadleir, Sidor, Varricchio, G.P. Wilson & J.A. Wilson 1999 "Niger (Republic) lizard"

nee-ZHAYR-SAWR-us or NIE-juhr-SAWR-us (Niger + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named to indicate a sauropod dinosaur found in the Republique du Niger, West Africa. Nigersaurus is a fairly small (up to 15 m (50 ft.) long), relatively primitive diplodocoid sauropod found in the Tegama Group (Albian-Aptian), Gadoufaoua, Sahara region of central Niger, West Africa; known from a partially articulated skeleton, including a partial skull, neck, scapula, forelimbs and hindlimbs (Holotype: MNN GAD512 (Musee National du Niger)), plus additional referred material. The presacral vertebrae have simple, undivided neural spines with large, paired, sharp-rimmed pneumatic spaces (pleurocoels) under the neural spines on the dorsal vertebrae. The extremely wide, squared-off shape of the front of the snout is unique among sauropods, resembling the broad edge of a Hoover vacuum cleaner and similar to the wide-mouthed Antarctosaurus from South America. The rows of teeth are "oriented strictly transversely," forming a straight, rake-like line across the fronts of the upper and lower jaws--the front of the lower jaw also extends outward to the sides somewhat like a duckbill. The small, pencil-shaped teeth have thick enamel only on the outside face of the crowns. About 140 teeth are exposed along the tip of the jaws, but replacement teeth are arranged behind in rapidly replacing stacks (up to 7 deep) for a total of about 600 teeth in the entire mouth. The unusual shape of the jaws and numerous teeth suggest Nigersaurus browsed on low-lying vegetation.

Type Species: Nigersaurus taqueti [tah-KAY-tie] Sereno, Beck, Dutheil, Larsson, Lyon, Moussa, Sadleir, Sidor, Varricchio, G.P. Wilson & J.A. Wilson 1999: for Philippe Taquet, French paleontologist, "whose expeditions (1965-1972) initiated large-scale paleontological exploration of Niger." Sauropoda Diplodocoidea Rebbachisauridae Early Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) WAfr. [added 11/99]

Niobrarasaurus Carpenter, Dilkes & Weishampel 1995 "Niobrara lizard"

nie-o-BRAHR-a-SAWR-us (Niobrara + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named for the Niobrara Chalk Formation in Kansas, which produced the holotype specimen "Hierosaurus" coleii. Anklyosauria Nodosauridae L. Cret. NA.

Nipponosaurus Nagao 1936 "Japanese lizard"

NIP-on-o-SAWR-us (Nippon, a name for Japan + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) The specimen was not found in Japan itself, but on southern Sakhalin Island, a region then under Japanese control. In 1945, at the end of WW II, all of Sakhalin Island came under the authority of the Soviet Union (now the Russian Federation) and the Japanese population was repatriated. Ornithopoda Hadrosauridae Lambeosaurinae L. Cret. EAs.

Noasaurus Bonaparte & Powell 1980 "Northwestern Argentina lizard"

NOH-ah-SAWR-us (N.O.A. (= noroeste Argentina) + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named from the Spanish abbreviation for "noroeste Argentina," the region including Salta Province, where the fossil was found. Theropoda Noasauridae L. Cret. SA.

Nodocephalosaurus Sullivan 1999 "knob-headed lizard"

NOH-do-SEF-a-lo-SAWR-us (Latin nodus "knob, knot" + Gr. kephale "head" + Gr. sauros "lizard")* (m) named "in reference to the many bulbous osteoderms fused to the top of the skull"; based on an incomplete skull and cranial fragments (SMP VP-900) found in the Kirtland Formation (De-na-zin Member), San Juan County, New Mexico. Nodocephalosaurus is a medium-sized, comparatively primitive ankylosaurid, with symmetrically placed knobby skull ornamentation similar to the Central Asian Saichania and Tarchia, to which it may be related. It differs from the other known Late Cretaceous North American forms Ankylosaurus and Euoplocephalus, which have flat, assymmetrical osteoderms fused to the the skull. A distinctive protuberance projects down and forward from the cheek region (quadratojugal), unlike in any other known ankylosaurids.

Type Species: Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis [KUHRT-lan-DEN-sis] Sullivan 1999: referring to the Kirtland "formation from which the holotype came." Ankylosauria Ankylosauridae Late Cretaceous (Upper Campanian) NA. [entry added 4-99]

Nodosaurus Marsh 1889 "knob lizard"

NOHD-o-SAWR-us (Lat. nodus "knot, knob" + Gr. sauros "lizard")* (m) named for armor Marsh describes as "regularly arranged in a series of rounded knobs...these protuberances have suggested the generic name." Ankylosauria Nodosauridae L. Cret. NA.

Nothronychus Kirkland & Wolfe 2001 "slothlike claw"

noh-THRON-i-kus (Gr. nothros "slothful" + Gr. onykh- (onyx) "claw" + -us)* (m) named for the large claws on its hands, which are very similar to the large claws of giant groundsloths, and alluding also to the overall resemblance of plant-eating therizinosaurs to extinct groundsloths such as Nothrotherium. Nothronychus is a relatively large (est. around 5.5-6 m (18-20 ft) long) therizinosaur known from a partial disarticulated skeleton (Holotype: MSM P-2117 (Mesa Southwest Museum, Mesa, Arizona)), including a fragmentary skull, isolated teeth, cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, ribs, gastralia, scapula, ischia, parts of the front (humerus, ulna) and hind (tibia, fibula) limbs, and elements of the hands (metacarpals, phalanges, claws) and feet (metatarsals, phalanges, claws), found in the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) Moreno Hill Formation in the Zuni Basin, Catron County, New Mexico. It differs from other therizinosaurs mainly in the serrations on its teeth and details of its manual claws and vertebrae. The manual unguals are relatively short and recurved, unlike the long and straight claws in some therizinosaurs. The right ischium of the holotype was originally misidentified as part of the frill of the horned dinosaur Zuniceratops. Nothronychus represents the first therizinosaur described from North America. Therizinosaurs are a group of plant-eating theropods previously known from Mongolia and China. Some specimens from China show evidence of a feather-like covering on parts of the body.

Type Species: Nothronychus mckinleyi [muh-KIN-lee-ie] Kirkland & Wolfe 2001: for Bobby McKinley, for his supportfor the research. Theropoda Coelurosauria Therizinosauridae Late Cretaceous (Turonian) NA

Notoceratops Tapia 1918 "southern horned face"

not-o-SER-a-tops (Gr. notos "south" + Gr. kerat- (keras) "horn" + Gr. ops "face") (m) named to indicate an apparent ceratopsian from Chubut Province, Argentina, in South America. The incomplete specimen makes its true taxonomic relationships difficult to determine. ?Ceratopsia Protoceratopidae L. Cret. SA. [nomen dubium]

Notohypsilophodon Martinez 1998 "southern hypsilophodont"

NOT-o-hip-si-LOF-o-don (Gr. notos "south" + Hypsilophodon) (m) named to indicate a hypsilophodont from South America, the first record from the continent of members of this group of ornithopods; known from a partial skeleton of a small juvenile lacking a skull (Holotype: UNPSJB-Pv-942 (Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, San Juan Basco), representing vertebrae (cervicals, dorsals, sacrals, caudals); rib fragments; partial scapula; coracoid; humerus, ulna; partial femur, tibia; astragalus, calcaneum; pedal phalanges, found in the Late Cretaceous (?Cenomanian) Bajo Barreal Formation, San Jorge Basin, Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina. The humerus is twisted toward the caudal end; the femur has a reduced ischiatic canal, lacks an intercondylar groove, and has an anterior trochanter well below the greater trochanter. Notohypsilophodon appears to lack features that define iguanodonts.

Type Species: Notohypsilophodon comodorensis [koh-moh-doh-REN-sis] Martinez 1998: "from Comodoro Rivadavia," the major coastal city near where the fossil remains were found in the San Jorge Basin, Chubut Province. Ornithopoda Hypsilophodontidae Late Cretaceous (? Cenomanian) SA [added 12/99]

Nqwebasaurus de Klerk, Forster, Sampson, Chinsamy & Ross 2000 "Nqweba (Kirkwood) lizard"

en-KWEB-ah-SAWR-us (Nqweba (Xhosa name for the Kirkwood region) + Gr. sauros "lizard") (m) named to indicate a small theropod dinosaur from the Kirkwood region of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Nqwebasaurus is a basal coelurosaur known from a well preserved, 70 percent-complete skeleton (Holotype: AM 6040 (Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa)), including a partial skull, some neck and dorsal vertebrae, a pubis, and fairly complete fore- and hindlimbs, scattered gastralia; found in the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian-Valanginian) Kirkwood Formation, Uitenhage Member, Algoa Basin,Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Forelimbs about 43% the length of the hindlimbs; humerus is robust, radius about 76% as long as humerus. The manus is elongated, with 3 digits; the first digit is well developed and may have been opposable. The tibia is about 120% the length of femur. 12 small gastroliths were found in the gut region. The specimen appears to be a subadult or late juvenile about 30 cm (1 ft) high at hips and probably around 90 cm (3 ft) long in life, though the actual length of its tail is not known. Nqwebasaurus represents the earliest known coelurosaur from Gondwana.

Type Species: Nqwebasaurus thwazi [TWAH-zee] de Klerk, Forster, Sampson, Chinsamy & Ross 2000: Xhosa word for "fast runner," to indicate a cursorial coelurosaur.Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Early Cretaceous (Berriasian-Valanginian) SAfr. [added 8/2000]