Pronunciation: PLAH-tee-PELL-tuh
Meaning: Broad shield
Author/s: Penkalski (2018)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Alberta, Canada
Acta Ordinal: #996
Platypelta coombsi
(Coombs' Broad Shield)Etymology
Platypelta is derived from the Greek "platys" (broad) and "pelta" (small shield), in reference to its broad osteoderms: armour-like deposits of bone (osteo) embedded in the skin (derm).
The species epithet, coombsi, honours Walter P. Coombs Jr., who pioneered the study of ankylosaurs in the late twentieth century.
Discovery
The first remains of Platypelta were discovered in the Dinosaur Park Formation at Sand Creek, near the Red Deer River, eight miles southeast of Steveville, Alberta, Canada, by Barnum Brown and Peter Kaisen in 1914.
The holotype (AMNH 5337) is a well-preserved skull and lower jaws, teeth, neck and back vertebrae, ribs, a complete pelvis, both shoulder girdles, both upper arms, both radii (one of two forearm bones), both cervical half-rings, and six osteoderms.
Four referred specimens were found in the same area: AMNH 5403 (a skull with lower jaws and teeth, vertebrae, ribs, sternum, shoulder girdles, an upper arm, a forearm, hand and finger bones, both half-rings, several osteoderms, and skin with osteoderms in situ), CMN 8876 (a skull with one tooth), ROM 788 (a tail club), and ROM 813 (vertebrae, ribs, a shoulder bone, one forearm bone, hand and finger bones, a partial pelvic girdle (right ilium, both ischia), a thigh, a shin, a calf, metatarsals, a possible left foot, numerous osteoderms, and substantial skin in situ).
