Crichtonsaurus was a genus in the Ankylosauridae Family. They lived in China during the Late Cretaceous Period. Only two species of this genus are known: C. bohlini and C. benxiensis. Crichtonsaurus was a medium-sized ankylosaur, 3 meters in length on the basis length of vertebrae. The teeth are small, and typically ankylosaurid in shape. Dermal plates, scutes, and spikes vary in size and form. The specimens of the first species where discovered in 2002 in China. The second species was discovered in 2007 in rocks of the early Late Cretaceous-age (Cenomanian-Turonian) Sunjiawan Formation of Beipiao Basin, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. Only a skull and other parts of the skeleton were found.
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Name
Scientists at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences named the new ankylosaur species Crichtonsaurus bohlini in honor of Michael Crichton because "dinosaurs became one of the most popular scientific subjects due to (his) book."