Edmarka Dinosaur is a genus of herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur that lived approximately 170 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Period in what is now the western United States. The type species, E. rex, was discovered in the Morrison Formation of Montana in 1998. The Morrison Formation is an extensive geological deposit containing fossils of some of the most famous dinosaurs, including Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, and Stegosaurus. Roughly 30 feet long and 9 feet tall at the hip, Edmarka was a relatively large animal. Its wide, bulky body was supported by short, thick legs and a relatively long tail.
Edmarka is most famous for its unusually large thumb claw. Described as "elephantine", this claw developed as an adaptation for foraging and defense. This thumb claw, which was curved and sharp, was likely used to hook and scrape foliage from low-lying branches and defend against predators. Other features of Edmarka include an overarching shoulder blade that gave the animal its wide girth and lent support to the forelimbs. Unlike other ornithopods, it has been established that Edmarka was able to feed from the ground in addition to using its thumb claw to feed from higher vegetation. This has been confirmed by the presence of "ground scratches" on its trailing tail vertebrae. This indicates that the dinosaur probably paused to feed on occasion.
Edmarka Facts :
| Name: | Edmarka Dinosaurs |
| Size: | 30 feet long and 9 feet tall |
| Main Facts: | The discovery of Edmarka has revolutionized our understanding of herbivorous dinosaurs. |
In addition, Edmarka is the only known non-iguanodontid ornithopod to exhibit extensive dome-shaped ornamentations on its vertebrae. These ornamentations are thought to have acted as shock absorbers, which would have allowed the animal to run quickly on relatively poor substrate. It is also the only ornithopod known to possess a domed sacrum.
Edmarka fossils are EXTREMELY rare and, as a result, it is one of the least-studied large-bodied dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic Period. With so few specimens known, it is hoped that further research will uncover more about this relatively mysterious animal and its ecology. As we learn more about Edmarka, we may gain a better understanding of the evolution of early herbivorous dinosaurs.
