Ferganocephale

Ferganocephale Temporal range: Middle Jurassic, 162 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Dinosauria
Order:	†Ornithischia
Clade:	†Neornithischia
Genus:	†Ferganocephale Averianov et al., 2005
Species:	† F. adenticulatum
Binomial name
Ferganocephale adenticulatum Averianov et al., 2005

Ferganocephale was possibly an early pachycephalosaurian dinosaur. It was from the Middle Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan.

The type species, Ferganocephale adenticulatum, was first described by Averianov, Martin, and Bakirov in 2005, and is based solely on teeth from the Callovian. The holotype is ZIN PH 34/42, an adult unworn tooth. The type species is Ferganocephale adenticulatum. The genus name combines the name of Fergana Province with a Greek kephale, "head", a reference to the presumed pachycephalosaurian affinities. The specific name means "without tooth serrations" in Neolatin.

Averianov e.a. classified Ferganocephale in the Pachycephalosauridae. It would then be one of the oldest known pachycephalosaurids. Robert M. Sullivan however, in 2006 disputed the pachycephalosaur classification, finding "few of the features [...] are characteristic of pachycephalosaur teeth," citing the lack of serrations on the teeth, and concludes the specimens are "too incomplete for identification". He considers the taxon a nomen dubium [1].

See also

• Timeline of pachycephalosaur research

References

• Ornithischia
• Sullivan, Robert M. A Taxonomic Review of the Pachycephalosauridae. State Museum of Pennsylvania. 2006.