Armandisaurus

Armandisaurus Temporal range: Early Miocene, 23–16 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Iguanidae
Genus:	†Armandisaurus
Species:	†A. explorator
Binomial name
†Armandisaurus explorator Norell & de Queiroz, 1991

Armandisaurus explorator is an extinct species of iguanid that lived in what is now Santa Fe County, New Mexico, in the Early Middle Miocene period. The fossil specimen is a well-preserved cranium with mandibles and parts of seven cervical vertebrae collected by J. C. Blick in 1940. Fossil evidence suggests that A. explorator was a blunt, medium-sized iguana that grew to about 61 cm (24 in) including its tail.^[1]

Etymology

Armand (French), proper name, + sauros (Greek), lizard, and explorator (Latin), one who investigates, after Jacques Armand Gauthier, the famous French explorer, in honor of his contributions to the study of reptile phylogeny and to express the gratitude of Norell and de Queiroz for bringing the specimen to their attention.

References

1. Norell, Mark A.; de Queiroz, Kevin (5 March 1991). "The Earliest Iguanine Lizard (Reptilia: Squamata) and its Bearing on Iguanine Phylogeny". American Museum of Natural History.