Pristopiti

Pristopiti is an extinct genus of feeding hadrosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 76 to 75 million years ago. It is a member of the family Hadrosauridae, a group of duck-billed dinosaurs characterized by their distinctive beaks and.filter-feeding habits.

Fossils of Pristopiti have been found in the Lameta Formation in India, which dates back to the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period. The genus was first described by Indian paleontologist David B. Weishampel in 2001. The name Pristopiti is derived from the words "pristis" meaning saw or comb-like, likely alluding to the presence of unique projecting bony crests on the dinosaur's frontal bones.

Pristopiti is noted for its distinctive skull morphology, which features a unique set of projecting bony crests along its frontal bones. Other notable features include the presence of crests on the maxillae bones and the shape of the maxillary fenestrae. The discovery of Pristopiti is significant not only for its representation of an extinct genus within the hadrosaurid family but also for the insight it provides into the evolutionary history of this group.

The fossil record from the Lameta Formation is notable for its unique preservation conditions, with well-preserved impressions of skin, muscle and vascular tissue seen in some specimens. The study of these impressions has provided valuable information on the anatomy of this dinosaur and its likely behavior and lifestyle.