Herbivore reptile fossil from New Mexico

[Kasia]

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/earliest-herbivorous-reptile-fossil-found

[The Amateur Paleontologist]

Thanks for sharing  New Mexico keeps givin' up amazing discoveries, doesn't it?

-Christian

[Cowboy Paleontologist]

The fossil itself is really incredibly well preserved and perfectly articulated:

 

One thing I might mention, I have seen a number of articles claiming that the etymology of the name "Gordodon" is from the Spanish for fat and Latin for tooth.  While I am not saying that this is inaccurate, I would bet a large some of money this name comes in part from it being found near 'gordo.

[Kato]

A few photos of Gordodon. Very bad lighting for photography. Spotlights from two directions casting bad shadows. Unable to extract good details.

 

 

 

The 'sail'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kato]

 

[Kato]

I wish the lighting had been better. At least one is able to make out the incisors in the front of the upper jaw.

[Kato]

This skull shot is marginally better

[Kato]

On 11/24/2018 at 10:11 PM, Cowboy Paleontologist said:

The fossil itself is really incredibly well preserved and perfectly articulated:

 

One thing I might mention, I have seen a number of articles claiming that the etymology of the name "Gordodon" is from the Spanish for fat and Latin for tooth.  While I am not saying that this is inaccurate, I would bet a large some of money this name comes in part from it being found near 'gordo.

 

The story that was recounted indicated the original thought was to name it Alamogordodon. They decided it was too long and shortened it.

 

[DPS Ammonite]

On 11/24/2018 at 10:11 PM, Cowboy Paleontologist said:

The fossil itself is really incredibly well preserved and perfectly articulated:

 

One thing I might mention, I have seen a number of articles claiming that the etymology of the name "Gordodon" is from the Spanish for fat and Latin for tooth.  While I am not saying that this is inaccurate, I would bet a large some of money this name comes in part from it being found near 'gordo.

The nearby town, Alamogordo translates as fat cottonwood. Gordodon translates as fat tooth even though the fossil does not have very fat teeth. It makes sense that the fossil was named for the nearby town and not its fat teeth. I probably would have named it Alamodon. 

[Tidgy's Dad]

49 minutes ago, Kato said:

 

The story that was recounted indicated the original thought was to name it Alamogordodon. They decided it was too long and shortened it.

 

Very nice. 

Thanks for sharing these photos.