New Armored Dinosaur Nipponopelta yezoensis Found in Japan
Researchers describe Nipponopelta yezoensis, a new nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Late Cretaceous Hikagenosawa Formation in Hokkaido, Japan, identified from a partial skull, vertebra, and teeth via 3D CT scans; phylogenetic analysis places it among derived nodosaurids of North America and Europe, suggesting a wide ancient distribution with a coastal habitat preference.