Pronunciation: ko-PAYR-ee-on
Meaning: Scalpel
Author/s: Chure (1994)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Utah, USA
Discovery Chart Position: #389
Koparion douglassi
Compared to its impressive procession of large predatory dinosaur specimens, the Morrison Formation's record of sub-two-meter-long theropods is poor. In fact, pint-sized carnivorous dinosaurs from this area are so rare that palaeontologists took to "panning" vast amounts of Brushy Basin muck, such was their desperation to find the tiniest remnant of a new one, and their perseverance paid off when they eventually emerged with... the crown of a tiny tooth.
Dan Chure was quick to name this sharp-edged tooth Koparion (meaning "scalpel" in Greek) and assign it to Troodontidae, which, as the first member found in Jurassic-aged sediment, would make it the oldest one known. But since then, troodontid-like teeth have been found attached to non-troodontid dinosaurs, so while it does seem to have a unique suite of features not seen in any other carnivorous Morrison Formation critter, or any troodontid known from anywhere, this particular peg may not actually be from the mouth of a troodontid.
A recently discovered but thus far undescribed troodontid skeleton from Wyoming may turn out to be Koparion.
Dan Chure was quick to name this sharp-edged tooth Koparion (meaning "scalpel" in Greek) and assign it to Troodontidae, which, as the first member found in Jurassic-aged sediment, would make it the oldest one known. But since then, troodontid-like teeth have been found attached to non-troodontid dinosaurs, so while it does seem to have a unique suite of features not seen in any other carnivorous Morrison Formation critter, or any troodontid known from anywhere, this particular peg may not actually be from the mouth of a troodontid.
A recently discovered but thus far undescribed troodontid skeleton from Wyoming may turn out to be Koparion.
(Earl Douglass' Scalpel)
Etymology
Koparion is named for a small surgical knife or scalpel (known as a "koparion" in Greek) because of the small, serrated, meat cutting tooth that represents the type specimen.
The species epithet, douglassi (DUG-luh-sie), is named in honor of Earl Douglass (1862-1931) "who discovered and excavated the great dinosaur quarry for which Dinosaur National Monument was created".
Discovery
The remains of Koparion were discovered at Rainbow Park in the upper Brushy Basin member of the Morrison Formation, Dinosaur National Monument, Uintah County, Utah, by Dan Chure in 1993.The holotype (DNM 3353) is a single, rootless maxillary (bone of the upper jaw) tooth crown; two millimeters tall, curved, and serrated on both edges.
