Kingdom Animalia Clade Dinosauria Scientific name Bissektipelta archibaldi Rank Genus | Class Reptilia Family †Ankylosauridae Phylum Chordata Order Ornithischia | |
Similar Bainoceratops, Bienosaurus, Amtosaurus, Asiaceratops, Breviceratops | ||
Bissektipelta (Averianov, 2002) is an ankylosaurid dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Uzbekistan. The holotype (ZIN PH 1/6) and only known specimen was collected from the Bissekty Formation (lateTuronian-Coniacian), of Dzharakuduk, and the name Bissektipelta refers to this geological formation (Bissekt + Greek pelte = "shield"). The holotype consists of a braincase and incomplete skull roof, along with isolated teeth and osteoderms. This material used to be referred to the genus "Amtosaurus", but was reassigned to a new taxon when that genus was declared a nomen dubium. Bissektipelta is monospecific, containing only B. archibaldi. The holotype was collected in September 1998 by the joint Usbek-Russian-British-American-Project. This specimen can be distinguished from "A. magnus" in having three exits for N. hypoglossus (XII) instead of two, by the lesser angle between ventral surfaces of basisoccipital and basisphenoid, and by the more caudally situated basispterygoid processes.