Pronunciation: in-VIK-tarks
Meaning: Unconquerable fortress
Author/s: McDonald and Wolfe (2018)
Synonyms: Non known
First Discovery: San Juan, New Mexico
Discovery Chart Position: #992
Invictarx zephyri
(Unconquerable fortress of the western wind)Etymology
Invictarx is derived from the Latin "invictus" (invincible or unconquerable) and "arx" (fortress), referring to the well-armored nature of ankylosaurian dinosaurs.
The species epithet, zephyri, is derived from "zephyrus" (west wind), in reference to the blustery conditions that prevail among the outcrops where the specimens were discovered.
Discovery
The remains of Invictarx were discovered at "Juans Lake Beds" in the upper part of the Allison Member in the Menefee Formation, San Juan County, New Mexico in 2011, by Andrew McDonald and Douglas Wolfe, supported by the University of Pennsylvania and volunteers from the Southwest Paleontological Society, and later by the Western Science Center (WSC) and Zuni Dinosaur Institute for Geosciences.The holotype (WSC 16505) is incomplete skeleton including fragments of a ribs, six complete or partial identifiable armour plates (WSC 16505.1–WSC 16505.6), and fragments of additional osteoderms. Referred specimens include UMNH VP 28350 (incomplete skeleton including three back vertebrae, fragments of ribs, a partial left arm [pieces of humerus, ulna, and radius], a piece of right radius, incomplete metacarpal, numerous incomplete but identifiable armour plates, and fragments of additional osteoderms) and UMNH VP 28351 (incomplete skeleton including fragments of several parts of back [centra], fragments of ribs, numerous incomplete but identifiable armour plates, and fragments of additional osteoderms).
