Tsagantegia by Moondawg

Tsagantegia

Tsagantegia (Tumanova, 1993; etymology = "of Tsagan-Teg") was a medium-sized member of the Ankylosauridae from the Upper Cretaceous Mongolia, during the Cenomanian stage. The holotype specimen (GI SPS N 700/17), a complete skull, was recovered from the Baynshiree Svita Formation (Cenomanian-Santonian), at the Tsagan-Teg ("White Mountain") locality, Dzun-Bayan, in the southeastern Gobi Desert, Mongolia. At this time, the genus is monotypic, including only the type species, T. longicranialis. The skull measures 30 cm. in length, with a maximum width of 25 cm.).Vickaryous et al. (2004) note that "Unlike other ankylosaurs, in Tsagantegia the cranial ornamentation is not subdivided into a mosaic of polygons but is amorphous." The quadratojugal and squamosal bosses are poorly developed, in contrast with other ankylosaurs. The skull was long and flat, smooth and bearing small horns.

The skull measures 30 centimeters (12 in) in length, with a maximum width of 25 centimeters (10 in). Vickaryous et al. (2004) note that "Unlike other ankylosaurs, in Tsagantegia the cranial ornamentation is not subdivided into a mosaic of polygons but is amorphous." The quadratojugal and squamosal bosses are poorly developed, in contrast with other ankylosaurs. The skull was long and flat, smooth and bearing small horns.

In their cladistic analysis of the Ankylosauria, Vickaryous et al. (2004) placed Tsagantegia at the base of the Ankylosauridae, as the sister group to all other ankylosaurids.