| Leaellynasaura | |
|---|---|
| |
| Holotype maxilla | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | †Ornithischia |
| Clade: | †Neornithischia |
| Clade: | †Ornithopoda |
| Clade: | †Elasmaria |
| Genus: | †Leaellynasaura Rich & Rich, 1989 |
| Species: | †L. amicagraphica
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Leaellynasaura amicagraphica Rich & Rich, 1989
| |
Leaellynasaura (meaning "Leaellyn's lizard") is a genus of small herbivorous ornithischian dinosaurs from the late Aptian to early Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous, around 118-110 million years ago.[1][2] It was first discovered in Dinosaur Cove, Australia. The only known species is Leaellynasaura amicagraphica. It was described in 1989, and named after Leaellyn Rich, the daughter of the Australian palaeontologist couple Tom Rich and Patricia Vickers-Rich who discovered it. The specific name, amicagraphica, translates to "friend writing" and honours both the Friends of the Museum of Victoria and the National Geographic Society for their support of Australian paleontology.[3]
- ^ Holtz, Thomas R. Jr. (2012) Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages, Winter 2011 Appendix.
- ^ Rich, T.H.; Galton, P.M.; Vickers-rich, P. (2010). "The holotype individual of the ornithopod dinosaur Leaellynasaura amicagraphica Rich & Rich, 1989 (late Early Cretaceous, Victoria, Australia)". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 34 (3): 385–396. Bibcode:2010Alch...34..385R. doi:10.1080/03115518.2010.489404.
- ^ Rich, T. and Rich, P. (1989). “Polar dinosaurs and biotas of the Early Cretaceous of southeastern Australia.” National Geographic Research, 5(1): 15–53.