Genus: Aletopelta FORD & KIRKLAND, 2001
Etymology: Greek, aletes, ‘wanderer, wandering’ and Greek, pelta, ‘shield’, a word commonly used for ankylosauris in reference to their armor. Aletes was chosen because originally, the plate containing the Peninsular Ranges Terrane, where Carlsbad and San Diego, California, are today, was somewhere opposite the middle of Mexico (Ford et al, 1998; Lund and Bottjer, 1992, Lund et al, 1991); this plate has thus been wandering northward carrying the specimen with it.

Species: coombsi FORD & KIRKLAND, 2001 (Type)
Etymology: In honor of Walter P. Coombs, Jr., for his groundbreaking work on ankylosaurs and his yeas of research, which have inspired many an enthusiast as well as professional paleontologist.

Holotype: SDNHM 33909

Locality: SDSNH Locality 3392, from a Koll construction site near El Camino Real in Carlsbad, College Boulevard between El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road, Northwest of Palomar-McCellan Airport, City of Carlsbad, approximately 117°15’W, 33°9’N, San Diego County, California.

Horizon: Point Loma Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Late Campanian Stage, Senonian Subepoch, Gulf Epoch, Late Cretaceous.

Material: Partial skeleton that includes; 8 teeth, fragmentary scapulae, partial humeri, partial ulnae, possible fragment of right (?) radius, ilia, partial left and possible fragment of right ischium, femora, tibiae, fibulae, 4 or 5 partial vertebrae, neural arches of the sacrum, fragmentary ribs, partial armor over pelvic girdles in situ, at least 60 detached armor plates, numerous indeterminate fragments, most imbedded in matrix and many of which are probably broken armor plates or ribs.

Note: Found in marine sediments.
Note: Paleopathology, possible scutes with pits, and a pathologic ulna?