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My son is currently obsessed with dinosaurs, along with every other 3-year-old. While learning all of the different names, I came across the ankylosaurus-like dinosaur “Gastonia.” I had to know, is it related to the city of Gastonia?
Turns out there is no relation! The armored dinosaur received its name to honor Robert Gaston, a skilled fossil collector and artist. Gaston played a crucial role in the discovery of the dinosaur’s remains in eastern Utah. Paleontologist James Kirkland formally described and named the species in 1998, dedicating the genus to Gaston’s significant contributions in unearthing the valuable Early Cretaceous fossils.
– Sally Schroder, The 100 Companies