Dr Susannah Lydon (@susieoftraken.bsky.social)

Miragaia longicollum MG 4863: New fossil and historical evidence from the most complete stegosaur from Europe ABSTRACT: Additional historical data regarding the original finding and excavation (circa 1958-1959) of the Miragaia longicollum stegosaur MG 4863 has been identified (including field notes and the complete field map), allowing a better understanding of its stratigraphic context. Additionally, osteological material that was previously partially encased in matrix was fully prepared and restored, including anterior and posterior caudal vertebrae, metacarpals, and five semi-complete dorsal vertebrae (the latter being the most significant addition, as these are the only skeletal elements shared by all type specimens of dacentrurine taxa). New anatomical information from these additional elements provides further evidence that M. longicollum is distinct from the closely related Late Jurassic stegosaur Dacentrurus armatus from England (demonstrated mainly by various caudal differences). The newly prepared material further completes what was already the best reference specimen among the Dacentrurinae clade, as well as Stegosauria in Europe during the Late Jurassic, increasing its value to better understand these contexts in future studies. https://doi.org/10.34637/xs1n-3d27