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Thyreophoroidea

Osteichthyes

Taxonomy
Thyreophoroidea was named by Nopcsa (1928). It was considered monophyletic by Maidment et al. (2008).

It was reranked as the superfamily Thyreophoroidea by Huene (1934), Huene (1934), Fonseca et al. (2024).

It was assigned to Orthopoda by Nopcsa (1928); to Ornithopoda by Nopcsa (1929); to Ornithischia by Huene (1934), Huene (1934); to Thyreophora by Sereno (1986); and to Thyreophora by Maidment et al. (2008), Fonseca et al. (2024).

Subtaxa
Eurypoda, Jakapil, Scelidosauridae, Yuxisaurus
Entered
by M. Carrano on 2003-01-31; modified by M. Carrano on 2017-07-21

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1928Thyreophoroidea Nopcsa p. 185
1929Thyreophoroidea Nopcsa p. 70
1934Thyreophoroidea Huene p. 15
1986Thyreophoroidea Sereno
2008Thyreophoroidea Maidment et al. p. 390 fig. 11
2024Thyreophoroidea Fonseca et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
subclassEureptilia()
RankNameAuthor
—Romeriida
—Diapsida()
—Archosauromorpha(Huene 1946)
—Crocopoda
—ArchosauriformesGauthier 1986
—Eucrocopoda
—Archosauria()
informalAvemetatarsalia
—Ornithodira
—Dinosauromorpha
—Dinosauriformes
—Dinosauria()
—Ornithischia()
—ParapredentataNorman 2022
—SaphornithischiaMadzia et al. 2001
—PrionodontiaOwen 1874
—Genasauria
—Thyreophora()
superfamilyThyreophoroidea()
superfamilyThyreophoroidea()

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Superfm. †Thyreophoroidea Nopcsa 1928
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Unr. †Eurypoda Sereno 1986
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Unr. †Ankylosauria Osborn 1923 [ankylosaur]
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G. †Dracopelta Galton 1980
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†Dracopelta zbyszewskii Galton 1980
Unr. †Euankylosauria Soto-Acuna et al. 2021
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Fm. †Ankylosauridae Brown 1908 [ankylosaurid]
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G. †Ahshislepelta Burns and Sullivan 2011
G. †Aletopelta Ford and Kirkland 2001
Subfm. †Ankylosaurinae Nopcsa 1918
G. †Bissektipelta Parish and Barrett 2004
G. †Cedarpelta Carpenter et al. 2001
G. †Chuanqilong Han et al. 2014
G. †Datai Xing et al. 2024
G. †Gobisaurus Vickaryous et al. 2001
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Invalid names: Zhongyuansaurus Xu et al. 2007 [synonym]
G. †Huaxiazhoulong Zhu et al. 2024
G. †Liaoningosaurus Xu et al. 2001
G. †Ruopodosaurus Arbour et al. 2024
G. †Shamosaurus Tumanova 1983
Invalid names: Dyoplosaurus giganteus Maleev 1956 [nomen dubium], Maleevus Tumanova 1987 [nomen dubium], Minmi Molnar 1980 [nomen dubium], Palaeoscincus asper Lambe 1902 [nomen dubium], Polacanthinae Lapparent and Lavocat 1955 [empty], Shamosaurinae Tumanova 1983 [empty], Stegopeltinae Ford 2000 [empty], Syrmosauridae Maleev 1952 [synonym], Syrmosaurinae Ford 2000 [empty]
Fm. †Nodosauridae Marsh 1890
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G. †Acantholipan Rivera-Sylva et al. 2018
G. †Animantarx Carpenter et al. 1999
G. †Anoplosaurus Seeley 1879
G. †Borealopelta Brown et al. 2017
G. †Dongyangopelta Chen et al. 2013
G. †Edmontonia Sternberg 1928
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Invalid names: Chassternbergia Bakker 1988 [synonym], Denversaurus Bakker 1988 [synonym]
G. †Gargoyleosaurus Carpenter et al. 1998
G. †Gastonia Kirkland 1998
G. †Glyptodontopelta Ford 2000
G. †Hoplitosaurus Lucas 1902
G. †Hungarosaurus Osi 2005
G. †Hylaeosaurus Mantell 1833
G. †Invictarx McDonald and Wolfe 2018
G. †Niobrarasaurus Carpenter et al. 1995
G. †Nodosaurus Marsh 1889
G. †Panoplosaurus Lambe 1919
G. †Patagopelta Riguetti et al. 2022
G. †Pawpawsaurus Lee 1996
G. †Peloroplites Carpenter et al. 2008
G. †Polacanthus Fox 1866
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Invalid names: Euacanthus Owen 1897 [objective synonym], Vectensia Delair 1982 [synonym]
G. †Propanoplosaurus Stanford et al. 2011
G. †Sauropelta Ostrom 1970
G. †Sauroplites Bohlin 1953
G. †Silvisaurus Eaton, Jr. 1960
G. †Stegopelta Williston 1905
Subfm. †Struthiosaurinae Nopcsa 1923
G. †Struthiosaurus Bunzel 1870
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Invalid names: Crataeomus Seeley 1881 [synonym], Danubiosaurus Bunzel 1871 [synonym], Leipsanosaurus Nopcsa 1918 [synonym], Pleuropeltus Seeley 1881 [synonym]
G. †Taohelong Yang et al. 2013
G. †Tatankacephalus Parsons and Parsons 2009
G. †Texasetes Coombs 1995
Invalid names: Acanthopholinae Nopcsa 1902 [synonym], Edmontoniinae Russell 1940 [empty], Hylaeosauridae Nopcsa 1902 [synonym], Nodosaurinae Abel 1919 [empty], Palaeoscincidae Nopcsa 1918 [synonym], Panoplosaurinae Nopcsa 1929 [empty], Sauropeltinae Ford 2000 [empty]
G. †Metatetrapous Ballerstedt 1922
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†Metatetrapous valdensis Nopcsa 1923
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Invalid names: Metatetrapous valdense Ballerstedt 1922 [synonym]
G. †Mymoorapelta Kirkland and Carpenter 1994
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†Mymoorapelta maysi Kirkland and Carpenter 1994
Superfm. †Nodosauroidea Bakker 1988
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Invalid names: Edmontoniidae Bakker 1988 [empty]
Unr. †Parankylosauria Soto-Acuña et al. 2021
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G. †Antarctopelta Salgado and Gasparini 2006
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†Antarctopelta oliveroi Salgado and Gasparini 2006
G. †Kunbarrasaurus Leahey et al. 2015
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†Kunbarrasaurus ieversi Leahey et al. 2015
G. †Stegouros Soto-Acuña et al. 2021
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†Stegouros elengassen Soto-Acuña et al. 2021
G. †Qijiangpus Xing et al. 2007
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†Qijiangpus sinensis Xing et al. 2007
G. †Sarcolestes Lydekker 1893
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†Sarcolestes leedsi Lydekker 1893
G. †Sinankylosaurus Wang et al. 2020
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†Sinankylosaurus zhuchengensis Wang et al. 2020
G. †Spicomellus Maidment et al. 2021
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†Spicomellus afer Maidment et al. 2021
G. †Vectipelta Pond et al. 2023
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†Vectipelta barretti Pond et al. 2023
Invalid names: Acanthopholis Huxley 1867 [nomen dubium], Acanthopholis eucercus Seeley 1879 [nomen dubium], Acanthopholis macrocercus Seeley 1869 [nomen dubium], Apraedentalia Huene 1948 [synonym], Brachypodosaurus Chakravarti 1934 [nomen dubium], Crichtonsaurus Dong 2002 [nomen dubium], Cryptodraco Lydekker 1889 [nomen dubium], Cryptosaurus Seeley 1875 [nomen dubium], Heishansaurus Bohlin 1953 [nomen dubium], Hierosaurus Wieland 1909 [nomen dubium], Palaeoscincus Leidy 1856 [nomen dubium], Palaeoscincus costatus Leidy 1856 [nomen dubium], Polacanthidae Wieland 1911 [empty], Polacanthoides Nopcsa 1928 [nomen dubium], Priconodon Marsh 1888 [nomen dubium], Priodontognathus Seeley 1875 [nomen dubium], Rhadinosaurus Seeley 1881 [nomen dubium], Rhodanosaurus Nopcsa 1929 [nomen dubium], Stegosaurus madagascariensis Piveteau 1926 [nomen dubium], Tianchiasaurus Dong 1993 [nomen dubium], Zhejiangosaurus Lü et al. 2007 [nomen dubium]
Unr. †Stegosauria Marsh 1877
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G. †Deltapodus Whyte and Romano 1995
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†Deltapodus brodricki Whyte and Romano 1995
†Deltapodus curriei Xing et al. 2013
†Deltapodus ibericus Cobos and Royo-Torres 2010
G. †Euskelesaurus Huxley 1866
G. †Garbina Salisbury et al. 2016
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†Garbina roeorum Salisbury et al. 2016
Fm. †Huayangosauridae Dong et al. 1982
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G. †Baiyinosaurus Li et al. 2024
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†Baiyinosaurus baojiensis Li et al. 2024
G. †Bashanosaurus Hui et al. 2022
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†Bashanosaurus primitivus Hui et al. 2022
G. †Gigantspinosaurus Ouyang 1992
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G. †Huayangosaurus Dong et al. 1982
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†Huayangosaurus taibaii Dong et al. 1982
G. †Isaberrysaura Salgado et al. 2017
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†Isaberrysaura mollensis Salgado et al. 2017
G. †Luluichnus Salisbury et al. 2016
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†Luluichnus mueckei Salisbury et al. 2016
G. †Stegopodus Lockley and Hunt 1998
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†Stegopodus czerkasi Lockley and Hunt 1998
Fm. †Stegosauridae Marsh 1880
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G. †Changdusaurus Zhao 1985
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G. †Chungkingosaurus Dong et al. 1983
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†Chungkingosaurus jiangbeiensis Dong et al. 1983
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Invalid names: Chungkingosaurus giganticus Ulansky 2014 [synonym], Chungkingosaurus magnus Ulansky 2014 [synonym]
G. †Mongolostegus Tumanova and Alifanov 2018
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†Mongolostegus exspectabilis Tumanova and Alifanov 2018
Unr. †Neostegosauria Sánchez-Fenollosa and Cobos 2025
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Subfm. †Dacentrurinae Olshevsky and Ford 1993
Subfm. †Stegosaurinae Nopcsa 1917
G. †Paranthodon Nopcsa 1929
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†Paranthodon africanus Broom 1912
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Invalid names: Paranthodon owenii Nopcsa 1929 [synonym], Paranthodon owenii Nopcsa 1929 [synonym]
G. †Priodontosaurus Romer 1966
G. †Tuojiangosaurus Dong et al. 1977
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†Tuojiangosaurus multispinus Dong et al. 1977
G. †Yingshanosaurus Zhou 1986
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Invalid names: Huayangosaurinae Dong et al. 1982 [empty], Hypsirhophidae Cope 1891 [synonym], Kentrosaurinae Nopcsa 1923 [empty], Kentrurosaurinae Nopcsa 1923 [empty], Lexovisaurus Hoffstetter 1957 [nomen dubium], Omosauridae Lydekker 1888 [synonym], Scelidosaurinae Nopcsa 1923 [empty], Siamodracon Ulansky 2014 [nomen dubium], Wuerhosaurus mongoliensis Ulansky 2014 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Amargastegos Ulansky 2014 [nomen dubium], Chialingosaurus Young 1959 [nomen dubium], Chialingosaurus kuani Young 1959 [nomen dubium], Craterosaurus Seeley 1874 [nomen dubium], Dravidosaurus Yadagiri and Ayyasami 1979 [nomen dubium], Eoplophysis Ulansky 2014 [nomen dubium], Ferganastegos Ulansky 2014 [nomen dubium], Lexovisaurus durobrivensis Hulke 1887 [nomen dubium], Monkonosaurus Zhao 1986 [nomen dubium], Omosaurus leedsi Seeley 1901 [nomen dubium], Regnosaurus Mantell 1848 [nomen dubium], Rigalitidae Kuhn 1961 [empty], Saldamosaurus Ulansky 2014 [nomen dubium], Wuerhosaurus ordosensis Dong 1994 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Ankylosauromorpha Carpenter 2001 [empty]
G. †Jakapil Riguetti et al. 2022
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†Jakapil kaniukura Riguetti et al. 2022
Fm. †Scelidosauridae Cope 1869
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G. †Emausaurus Haubold 1990
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†Emausaurus ernsti Haubold 1990
G. †Scelidosaurus Owen 1859
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G. †Yuxisaurus Yao et al. 2022
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†Yuxisaurus kopchicki Yao et al. 2022
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
B. F. Nopcsa 1928teeth with multicusped margin and striated crown, more or less complete dermal armour.
S. C. R. Maidment et al. 2008Scelidosaurus, Ankylosaurus, their most recent common ancestor and all of their descendants (Sereno 1986).

Unambiguous synapomorphies:
• Supraorbitals form the dorsal rim of the orbit
• Anterior caudal neural spine height is greater than the height of the centrum (reversed in Sauropelta)

Additional synapomorphy using ACCTRAN:
• Presence of U-shaped cervical collars composed of keeled scutes (reversed in Stegosauria)

Additional synapomorphies using Delayed Transformation (DELTRAN):
• Quadrate condyle angled strongly ventromedially in posterior view (equivocal in basal thyreophorans)
• Transverse processes of dorsal vertebrae project at a highangle to the horizontal (equivocal in Emausaurus; reversed in Gigantspinosaurus)
• Large horizontal lateral enlargement of the ilium present (equivocal in Emausaurus)
• Supra-acetabular flange present (equivocal in Emausaurus; reversed in Ankylosauria)