Spinophorosaurus

Spinophorosaurus Temporal range: Middle Jurassic?, 167 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Holotype skeleton GCP-CV-4229 during excavation
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Sauropodomorpha
Infraorder:	Sauropoda
Genus:	Spinophorosaurus Remes et al., 2009
Species
S. nigerensis Remes et al., 2009 (type)

Spinophorosaurus (meaning 'spine-bearing lizard') is a genus of early sauropod dinosaur from Niger. It was recovered in a rock formation belonging to the lower part of the Irhazer Group, the age of which is unknown but may be Middle Jurassic or older. It is unusual for having spiked osteoderms, probably from the tail, similar to the famed thagomizer of stegosaurs. The type species, S. nigerensis, was described by Remes et al. in 2009. A study of its braincase showed that its neuroanatomy was in some ways intermediate between that of basal sauropodomorphs and that of neosauropods. It was about 13 metres (43 ft) long and weighed about 7 metric tons (7.7 short tons).