Sauropodomorpha Huene, 1932
Definition- (Plateosaurus engelhardti, Diplodocus longus
<- Passer domesticus) (modified from Upchurch, 1997)
Other definitions- (Plateosaurus engelhardti + Saltasaurus
loricatus) (Wilson, 2005; modified from Sereno, 1998; modified from Salgado
et al., 1997)
(Plateosaurus engelhardti + Morosaurus impar) (modified from Kischlat,
2000; modified from Salgado et al., 1997)
(Saltasaurus loricatus <- Allosaurus fragilis) (modified from
Galton and Upchurch, 2004)
(Saltasaurus loricatus <- Passer domesticus, Triceratops
horridus) (Sereno, 2007)
(Diplodocus carnegii <- Passer domesticus, Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis, Triceratops horridus) (Baron, Norman and Barrett, 2017)
= Arctopoda Haeckel, 1895 preoccupied Butler, 1883
= Palaeosauria Haeckel, 1895 preoccupied Seeley, 1882
= Pachypodosauria Huene, 1914 sensu Kischlat, 2000
Definition- (Morosaurus impar <- Allosaurus fragilis) (modified)
= Allophagi Jaekel, 1914
= Pachypodosauroidea Nopcsa, 1928
?= Prosauropoides Lapparent and Lavocat, 1955
= Palaeopoda Colbert, 1964 preoccupied Packard, 1903
= Brontosauria Olshevsky, 1991
= Sauropodomorpha sensu Sereno, 2007
Definition- (Saltasaurus loricatus <- Passer domesticus, Triceratops
horridus)
= Sauropodomorpha sensu Baron, Norman and Barrett, 2017
Definition- (Diplodocus carnegii <- Passer domesticus, Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis, Triceratops horridus)
Comments- Jaekel (1914) used Allophagi for plateosaurids, cetiosaurids,
morosaurids, diplodocids and atlantosaurids, but not anchisaurids, zanclodontids
or theropods. Huene (1914) erected Pachypodosauria for carnosaurs and sauropodomorphs,
to the exclusion of coelurosaurs. This makes Kischlat's (2000) definition problematic,
as he explicitly excludes the type carnosaur Allosaurus. Nopcsa (1928)
later used Pachypodosauroidea (invalid, as there is no genus Pachypodosaurus)
for basal sauropodomorphs. Colbert (1964) named Palaeopoda for a paraphyletic
group of basal sauropodomorphs, but the name is preoccupied by an arthropod
group equivalent to Arachnomorpha (Packard, 1903). Though Colbert's paper is
often credited with first using Palaeosauria as a group of carnivorous basal
sauropodomorphs, this usage goes back to Haeckel (1895). Seeley (1876) had earlier
used Palaeosauria for group equal to Amphibia and Reptilia, and later (1882)
for a group containing all reptiles except squamates. Haeckel (1895) also used
Arctopoda as a grade of basal dinosaurs/sauropodomorphs (including prodinosaurs,
palaeosaurs, zanclodonts and anchisaurs), but this is preoccupied by a genus
of moth (Butler, 1883). Excepting misspellings of Brontosaurus and popular
usage, Olshevsky (1991) is the first to use Brontosauria as a taxonomic group.
He proposed it for non-segnosaurian sauropodomorphs, but since segnosaurs are
now known to be theropods, Brontosauria becomes synonymous with Sauropodomorpha.
References- Seeley, 1876. On the posterior portion of a lower jaw of
Labyrinthodon (L. lavisi), from the Trias of Sidmouth. The Quarterly
Journal of the Geological Society of London. 32, 278-284.
Seeley, 1882. On Neusticosaurus pusillus (Fraas), an amphibious reptile
having affinities with the terrestrial Nothosauria and with the marine Plesiosauria.
The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. 38, 350-366.
Butler, 1883. Heterocerous Lepidoptera collected in Chili by Thomas Edmonds,
Esq.. The Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 1883, 49-90.
Haeckel, 1895. Systematische Phylogenie der Wirbelthiere: (Vertebrata). 660
pp.
Packard, 1903. Hints on the classification of the Arthropoda, the group a phylogenetic
one. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 42(173), 142-161.
Jaekel, 1914. �ber die Wirbeltierfunde in der oberen Trias von Halberstadt.
Palaontologische Zeitschrift. 1(1), 155-215.
Nopcsa, 1928. The genera of reptiles. Palaeobiologica. 1, 163-188.
Huene, 1932. Die fossile Reptil-Ordnung Saurischia, ihre entwicklung und geschichte.
Monographien zur Geologia und Palaeontologie. 1, 1-362.
Lapparent and Lavocat, 1955. Dinosauriens. in Piveteau (ed.). Traite de Paleontologie.
Masson, Paris. 5, 785-962.
Colbert, 1964. Relationships of the saurischian dinosaurs. American Museum Novitates.
2181, 1-24.
Olshevsky, 1991. A Revision of the Parainfraclass Archosauria Cope, 1869, Excluding
the Advanced Crocodylia. Mesozoic Meanderings. 2, 196 pp.
Salgado, Coria and Calvo, 1997. Evolution of titanosaurid sauropods. I: Phylogenetic
analysis based on the postcranial evidence. Ameghiniana. 34(1), 3-32.
Upchurch, 1997. Sauropodomorpha. Currie and Padian (eds.). Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs.
Academic Press, San Diego. 658-660.
Sereno, 1998. A rationale for phylogenetic definitions, with application to
the higher-level taxonomy of Dinosauria. Neues Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und
Pal�ontologie Abhandlungen. 210, 41-83.
Kischlat, 2000. Tecodoncios: A aurora dos Arcosaurios no Triassico. in Holz
and De Rose (eds.). Paleontologia do Rio Grande do Sul. 273-316.
Galton and Upchurch, 2004. Prosauropoda. In Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska
(eds.). The Dinosauria (second edition). University of California Press, Berkeley.
232-258.
Wilson, 2005. Overview of sauropod phylogeny and evolution. in Curry Rogers
and Wilson (eds.). The Sauropods: Evolution and Paleobiology. University of
California Press, Berkeley. 15-49.
Sereno, 2007. Basal Sauropodomorpha: Historical and recent phylogenetic hypotheses,
with comments on Ammosaurus major (Marsh, 1889). Special Papers in Palaeontology.
77, 261-289.
Baron, Norman and Barrett, 2017. A new hypothesis of dinosaur
relationships and early dinosaur evolution. Nature. 543(7646), 501-506.
Aetonyx
Agrosaurus
Aristosaurus
Asylosaurus
Dimodosaurus
Dromicosaurus
Euskelosaurus? africanus
Fulengidae Carroll and Galton, 1977
Reference- Carroll and Galton, 1977. 'Modern' lizard from the Upper Triassic
of China. Nature. 266(5599), 252-255.
Fulengia
Comments- Though synonymized with Lufengosaurus huangi by Evans
and Milner (1989), Fulengia lacks the two cranial autapomorphies of that
species for which it can be scored (distinct tuberosity on lateral surface of
ascending process of maxilla; low boss on central portion of jugal at junction
of the three jugal processes). This may be ontogenetic, but the recent recognition
that taxa such as "Gyposaurus" sinensis and Lufengosaurus?
magnus may not be synonymous with L. huangi makes Fulengia's
identity more questionable, as does the discovery of new genera such as Jingshanosaurus
and Kunmingosaurus. Further study is needed.
References- Carroll and Galton, 1977. 'Modern' lizard from the Upper
Triassic of China. Nature. 266(5599), 252-255.
Evans and Milner, 1989. Fulengia, a supposed early lizard reinterpreted
as a prosauropod dinosaur. Palaeontology. 32(1), 223-230.
Gigantoscelis
Gresslyosaurus? plieningeri
Gresslyosaurus? robustus
Gryponyx? taylori
Gryponyx? transvaalensis
Gyposaurus
Hortalotarsus
Leptospondylus
Massospondylus? browni
Massospondylus? harriesi
Massospondylus? schwarzi
Orosaurus
Pachysauriscus
P. ajax
P? giganteus
P? magnus
P? wetzelianus
Pachyspondylus
Pachysuchus
Plateosaurus? reiningeri
Plateosaurus? quenstedti
Sellosaurus? fraasi
"Teratosaurus" trossingensis
Thecodontosaurus? dubius
Thecodontosaurus? hermannianus
Thecodontosaurus? minor
unnamed Sauropodomorpha (Young, 1948)
Hettangian, Early Jurassic
Shawan Member (Dull Purplish Beds) of Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China
Material- (IVPP V30) incomplete mid dorsal vertebra (153 mm) (Young,
1948)
(IVPP V31) partial posterior dorsal vertebra (~160 mm) (Young, 1948)
Sinemurian, Early Jurassic
Zhangjiawa Member (Dark Red Beds) of Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China
(IVPP V21) first sacral vertebra (135 mm), second sacral vertebra
(145 mm), third sacral vertebra (?140 mm), ila (660, 690 mm), pubes
(665, 690 mm), proximal ischia (Young, 1948)
(IVPP V88) ilium (565 mm) (Young, 1951)
(IVPP V97) partial femur (~900 mm), proximal tibia (Young, 1951)
(IVPP V100) posterior cervical vertebra, first dorsal vertebra (204
mm), second dorsal vertebra (165 mm), third dorsal vertebra (140 mm),
fourth dorsal vertebra (130 mm), fifth dorsal vertebra (140 mm), sixth
dorsal vertebra (152 mm), seventh dorsal vertebra (153 mm), eighth
dorsal vertebra (155 mm), ninth dorsal vertebra, tenth dorsal vertebra
(152 mm), eleventh dorsal vertebra, twelfth dorsal vertebra (144 mm),
thirteenth dorsal vertebra (146 mm), fourteenth dorsal vertebra,
ninteen incomplete dorsal ribs, dorsal rib fragments, first sacral
centrum, (130 mm), second sacral vertebra (140 mm), third sacral
vertebra (135 mm), first caudal vertebra (120 mm), second caudal
vertebra (120 mm), third caudal vertebra (125 mm), fourth caudal
vertebra (140 mm), fifth caudal vertebra (140 mm), sixth caudal
vertebra (155 mm), seventh caudal vertebra (145 mm), eighth caudal
vertebra (140 mm), ninth caudal vertebra (140 mm), tenth caudal
vertebra (140 mm), ventral first chevron, second to seventh chevrons
(360, 365, 330, 290, 260, 250 mm), scapula (700 mm), coracoid, humerus
(480 mm), proximal ulna, metacarpal I (40 mm), ilia (one partial; 635
mm), pubic fragments, ischial fragments, distal femur (~880 mm),
proximal tibia (~825 mm), proximal fibula (~720 mm), astragalus (205 mm
wide), proximal metatarsal II, proximal phalanx II-1, phalanx III-2,
phalanx IV-4 (Young, 1951)
Comments- Young (1948) described and referred a sacrum and pelves (IVPP V21) to Sinosaurus,
but this specimen is a sauropodomorph (Walker, 1964). Young (1951) described
a partial skeleton (IVPP V100), ilium (IVPP V88) and incomplete femur and distal
tibia (IVPP V97) as Sinosaurus as well. Heerden (1977) stated both plateosaurid
and melanorosaurid material was present in these IVPP specimens. Zhang and Yang
(1995) assigned all of them to Jingshanosaurus (IVPP V88 and V97 mistyped
as V98/V81 and V91). However, Galton (1999) found IVPP V21 to be probably Lufengosaurus
or Yunannosaurus, while IVPP V100 is not referrable to these or Jingshanosaurus.
Dorsal vertebrae IVPP V30 and V31 are probably sauropodomorph, comparable to IVPP V100.
References- Young, 1948. On two new saurischians from Lufeng, Yunnan.
Bulletin of the Geological Society of China. 28, 75-90.
Young, 1951. The Lufeng saurischian fauna in China. Palaeontologica Sinica.
C(13), 1-96.
Walker, 1964. Triassic reptiles from the Elgin area: Ornithosuchus and
the origin of carnosaurs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of
London B. 248, 53-134.
Simmons, 1965. The non-therapsid reptiles of the Lufeng Basin, Yunnan, China.
Fieldiana Geology. 15, 1-93.
Heerden, 1977. The comparative anatomy of the postcranial skeleton and the relationships
of the South African Melanorosauridae (Saurischia: Prosauropoda). PhD Thesis,
University of the Orange Free State. 175 pp.
Zhang and Yang, 1995. A complete osteology of Prosauropoda in Lufeng Basin Yunnan
China. Jingshanosaurus. Yunnan Science and Technology Publishing House,
Kunming. 100 pp.
Galton, 1999. Sex, sacra and Sellosaurus gracilis (Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha,
Upper Triassic, Germany) - or why the character "two sacral vertebrae"
is plesiomorphic for Dinosauria. Neues Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und Pal�ontologie,
Monatshefte. 213(1), 19-55.
Guaibasauridae Bonaparte, Ferigolo and
Ribeiro, 1999
Definition- (Guaibasaurus candelariensis <- Carnotaurus
sastrei, Saltasaurus loricatus) (Ezcurra, 2010)
Comments- Bonaparte et al. (1999) erected this as a monotypic family
of basal saurischians, but Bonaparte et al. (2007) later referred Saturnalia
to it in addition to Guaibasaurus. Recently this family was supported
in the analysis of Ezcurra (2010), who found it to be a basal sauropodomorph
clade containing Guaibasaurus, Panphagia, Saturnalia, Chromogisaurus
and Agnosphitys. Reanalysis of Ezcurra's matrix with more taxa and characters
does place his guaibasaurid taxa within Sauropodomorpha, but leaves Guaibasaurus,
Panphagia, Agnosphitys and Saturnaliinae in a polytomy.
References- Bonaparte, Ferigolo and Ribeiro, 1999. A new early Late Triassic
saurischian dinosaur from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Proceedings of the
Second Gondwanan Dinosaurs Symposium. National Science Museum Monographs, Tokyo.
15, 89-109.
Bonaparte, Brea, Schultz and Martinelli, 2007. A new specimen of Guaibasaurus
candelariensis (basal Saurischia) from the Late Triassic Caturrita Formation
of southern Brazil. Historical Biology. 19(1), 73-82.
Ezcurra and Novas, 2009. Guaibasauridae, a new clade of Triassic basal sauropodomorphs.
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29(3), 92A.
Ezcurra, 2010. A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late
Triassic of Argentina: A reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny. Journal
of Systematic Palaeontology. 8(3), 371-425.
Guaibasaurus Bonaparte,
Ferigolo and Ribeiro, 1999
G. candelariensis Bonaparte, Ferigolo and Ribeiro, 1999
Early Norian, Late Triassic
Botucarai Hill, Caturrita Formation, Brazil
Holotype- (MCN-PV 2355) (17 kg CF04) five incomplete dorsal centra (22 mm), three incomplete
mid dorsal neural arches, five incomplete dorsal ribs, incomplete first sacral
centrum (29), incomplete second sacral centrum (19 mm), ten incomplete proximal
caudal vertebrae (31 mm), several proximal chevrons (39 mm), incomplete scapula
(116 mm), partial coracoid (28 mm), ilia (one incomplete, one fragmentary; ~87
mm), incomplete pubes (136 mm), incomplete ischia (131 mm), incomplete femora
(~214 mm), incomplete tibiae (~212 mm), incomplete fibulae (~207 mm), fragmentary
astragali, calcanea (one fragmentary), fragmentary distal tarsals, metatarsals
I (57 mm), phalanges I-1, pedal unguals I, metatarsals II (85 mm), phalanges
II-1, phalanges II-2, pedal unguals II, metatarsals III (95 mm), phalanges III-1,
phalanges III-2, phalanges III-3, pedal unguals III, metatarsals IV (83 mm),
phalanges IV-1, phalanges IV-2, phalanges IV-3, phalanges IV-4, pedal unguals
IV, metatarsals V (41 mm)
Paratype- (MCN-PV 2356) incomplete tibia, incomplete fibula, astragalus
(40 mm across), calcaneum (16 mm across), distal tarsal III, distal tarsal IV,
metatarsal I, phalanx I-1, pedal ungual I, metatarsal II, phalanx II-1, phalanx
II-2, pedal ungual II, metatarsal III, phalanx III-1, phalanx III-2, phalanx
III-3, pedal ungual III, metatarsal IV, phalanx IV-1, phalanx IV-2, phalanx
IV-3, phalanx IV-4, pedal ungual IV, metatarsal V
Early Norian, Late Triassic
Linha Sao Luiz, Caturrita Formation, Brazil
Referred- (MCN-PV 10112) articulated elements including metacarpal I (~29 mm) (Bittencourt Rodrigues,
2010)
(UFRGS PV0725T) thirteen dorsal vertebrae (36 mm), twenty-three partial dorsal
ribs, gastralia, four fragmentary sacral vertebrae, eighteen caudal vertebrae
(sixth and eighth caudals 27 mm), ten chevrons, partial scapulae, partial coracoids,
partial humeri (~145 mm), incomplete radius, incomplete ulna (~92 mm), two incomplete
manus including metacarpal I (~24 mm), phalanx I-1 (~30 mm), manual ungual I
(~30 mm), metacarpal II (~35 mm), phalanx II-1 (~28 mm), phalanx II-2 (~25 mm),
manual ungual II (~36 mm), metacarpal III (~31 mm), phalanx III-2, phalanx III-2,
phalanx III-3, manual ungual III, metacarpal IV, ilia, pubes, ischia, femora
(270 mm), incomplete tibiae, incomplete fibulae, partial astragali, partial
calcanea, two pes including metatarsal II, phalanx II-1, phalanx II-2, pedal
ungual II, metatarsal III, phalanx III-1, phalanx III-2, phalanx III-3, pedal
ungual III, metatarsal IV, phalanx IV-1, phalanx IV-2, phalanx IV-3, phalanx
IV-4, pedal ungual IV (Bonaparte, Brea, Schultz and Martinelli, 2007)
Comments- This taxon was described as a saurischian perhaps basal to
both sauropodomorphs and theropods, or perhaps a basal sauropodomorph itself,
by Bonaparte et al. (1999) (who nonetheless lists it as ?Theropoda in the systematic
section). Bonaparte et al. (2007) had a similar conclusion, though neither of
these papers used a cladistic system. Langer (2004) and Yates (2007) found it
to be a theropod basal to avepods in their analyses, with Yates further finding
it to be more derived than Agnosphitys and less than Chindesaurus.
However, neither of these analyses use the new forelimb data of UFRGS PV0725T.
The latter was used by Bittencourt Rodrigues (2010) and Ezcurra (2010), who
found it to be a basal theropod and a basal sauropodomorph respectively.
References- Bonaparte, Ferigolo and Ribeiro, 1999. A new early Late Triassic
saurischian dinosaur from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Proceedings of the
Second Gondwanan Dinosaurs Symposium. National Science Museum Monographs, Tokyo.
15, 89-109.
Langer, 2004. Basal Saurischia. In Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska. The Dinosauria
Second Edition. University of California Press. 861 pp.
Bonaparte, Brea, Schultz and Martinelli, 2007 (online 2006). A new specimen of Guaibasaurus
candelariensis (basal Saurischia) from the Late Triassic Caturrita Formation
of southern Brazil. Historical Biology. 19(1), 73-82.
Langer, Bittencourt and Schultz, 2007. The inclusivity and phylogenetic position
of Guaibasaurus candelariensis: A basal dinosaur from the Late Triassic
of Brazil. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27(3), 103A.
Yates, 2007. Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: the identity of Aliwalia rex
Galton. Historical Biology. 19(1), 93-123.
Bittencourt Rodrigues, 2010. Revisao filogenetica dos dinossauriformes basais:
Implicacoes para a origem dod dinossauros. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. Universidade
de Sao Paulo. 288 pp.
Ezcurra, 2010. A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late
Triassic of Argentina: A reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny. Journal
of Systematic Palaeontology. 8(3), 371-425.
unnamed basal sauropodomorph (Kutty, Jain and Chowdhury, 1987; described
by Novas, Ezcurra, Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011)
Late Norian-Early Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Upper Maleri Formation, India
Material- (ISI R277) two cervical vertebrae, partial last dorsal neural
arch, three sacral vertebrae, ilia (one fragmentary), femora (one partial),
tibia, astragalus, incomplete metatarsal I, phalanx I-1, metatarsal II, incomplete
phalanx II-1, incomplete metatarsal III, incomplete metatarsal IV, metatarsal
V
Comments- This was first called Massospondylus sp. by Kutty et
al. (1987), stated to be similar to Guaibasaurus by Kutty et al. (2007)
(listed as "Theropod: aff. Guibasauruss[sic]"), then mentioned
by Novas et al. (2009) as resembling Guaibasaurus, Saturnalia
and Panphagia. It was later described by Novas et al. (2011) as a guaibasaurid,
emerging in Yates' sauropodomorph matrix in a polytomy with Panphagia
and Guaibasaurus plus saturnaliines.
References- Kutty, Jain and Chowdhury, 1987. Gondwana sequence of the
Northern Pranhita-Godavari Valley: Its stratigraphy and vertebrate faunas. The
Palaeobotanist. 36, 214-219.
Kutty, Chatterjee, Galton and Upchurch, 2007. Basal sauropodomorphs (Dinosauria:
Saurischia) from the Lower Jurassic of India: Their anatomy and relationships.
Journal of Paleontology. 81, 1218-1240.
Novas, Chatterjee, Ezcurra and Kutty, 2009. New dinosaur remains from the Late
Triassic of Central India. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29(3), 156A.
Novas, Ezcurra, Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011. New dinosaur species from the Upper
Triassic Upper Maleri and Lower Dharmaram formations of Central India. Earth
and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 101,
333-349.
Agnosphitys Fraser, Padian,
Walkden and Davis, 2002
A. cromhallensis Fraser, Padian, Walkden and Davis, 2002
Late Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Cromhall Quarry, England
Holotype- (VMNH 1745) ilium
Paratypes-
(VMNH 1746) partial or incomplete ilium
(VMNH 1747) partial or incomplete ilium
(VMNH 1748) astragalus
(VMNH 1749) astragalus
(VMNH coll.) seven partial and incomplete ilia, astragalus
Diagnosis- (modified from
Fraser et al., 2002) well-defned brevis fossa on ilium; semi-perforate
acetabulum; 'kidney-shaped' antitrochanter; well-developed posterior
portion of iliac blade; two sacral vertebrae; astragalus with a
distinct ascending process and a prominent depression immediately
posterior to the ascending process; in dorsal aspect an acute
anteromedial corner on the astragalus.
Other diagnoses- Fraser et al.
(2002) also listed "subrectangular deltopectoral crest that is 33
percent of the length of the humerus", but the humeri are here referred
to a silesaur following Baron et al. (2017).
Comments-
This material was in a fissure fill discovered in 1990 and first
reported as an ornithodiran and possible basal dinosaur by Fraser and
Padian (1995), who noted "well preserved ilia and a humerus, together
with other more fragmentary postcranial elements." In the
original description, the new genus is listed as Agnosphitys,
but the new species is listed as Agnostiphys cromhallensis. The names
Agnosphitys and Agnostiphys are then used interchangeably throughout
the paper. Fraser (2002) quickly published a note saying Agnosphitys
is the intended spelling. Not all element numbers are listed in the
description, but the VMNH online catalogue lists VMNH 1746 and 1747 in
addition to published numbers, and these are ilia (Harris pers. comm., 2021).
Fraser et al. (2002) believed Agnosphitys to be a dinosauriform less
closely related to dinosaurs than Herrerasaurus is. Yet they differ from
nearly all other recent authors in placing the latter taxon outside Dinosauria
and Saurischia, bringing their conclusions into doubt. More recently, Yates
(2007) included Agnosphitys in a cladistic analysis which found it to
be a theropod less closely related to Avepoda than Chindesaurus and Guaibasaurus,
while Ezcurra (2010) modified that matrix and found it to be a guaibasaurid
sauropodomorph. Nesbitt et al. (2015) found the genus to be a basal silesaurid
related to Asilisaurus and Lewisuchus
in their unpublished analysis. Bonaparte et al. (2007) stated
"The left ilium and astragalus are very similar to those of Guaibasaurus and Saturnalia" and so tentatively considered it a guaibasaurid, but suggested "The humerus referred by the cited authors to Agnosphitys is quite different from the humerus of Guaibasaurus and Saturnalia
(Langer et al. 1999) and probably belongs to a different taxon." Baron
et al. (2017) agreed, stating the hypodigm "could represent a chimaera
as it is based on disarticulated fissure fill material", as "The
maxilla (VMNH 1751) seems almost certainly of silesaurid affinity, due
to the ankylosed nature of its teeth" and "the humerus (VMNH 1750) also
appear[s] very similar to those same elements in other silesaurid
taxa", yet "the 'more derived' nature of elements like the astragalus
suggest a dinosaurian affinity" and specifically the holotype ilium
"appears much more similar to those of basal sauropodomorphs such as Saturnalia tupiniquim and Guaibasaurus candelariensis." Indeed while their initial analysis recovered it in a trichotomy with Lewisuchus
and other silesaurids, Baron and Williams (2018) later restricted the
OTU to the ilium and recovered it in a polytomy with basal
sauropodomorph taxa. Thus the maxilla and humeri are here assigned to
a Lewisuchus-grade silesaur.
References- Fraser and Padian, 1995. Possible dinosaur remains from Britain
and the diagnosis of the Dinosauria. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 15(3),
30A.
Fraser, Padian, Walkden and Davis, 2002. Basal dinosauriform
remains from Britain and the diagnosis of the Dinosauria. Palaeontology. 45(1),
79-95.
Fraser, 2002. Corrigendum. Palaeontology. 45, 843.
Bonaparte, Brea, Schultz and Martinelli, 2007 (online 2006). A new specimen of Guaibasaurus
candelariensis (basal Saurischia) from the Late Triassic Caturrita Formation
of southern Brazil. Historical Biology. 19(1), 73-82.
Yates, 2007. Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: the identity of Aliwalia rex
Galton. Historical Biology. 19(1), 93-123.
Ezcurra, 2010. A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late
Triassic of Argentina: A reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny. Journal
of Systematic Palaeontology. 8(3), 371-425.
Nesbitt, Sidor, Irmis, Stocker, Angielczyk and Smith, 2015. The anatomy of Asilisaurus
kongwe (Dinosauriformes: Silesauridae) and closely-related taxa provides
new insights into the anatomical and chronological evolution of dinosauriforms.
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Program and Abstracts 2015, 187-188.
Baron, Norman and Barrett, 2017. A new hypothesis of dinosaur
relationships and early dinosaur evolution. Nature. 543(7646), 501-506.
Baron and Williams, 2018. A re-evaluation of the enigmatic dinosauriform Caseosaurus crosbyensis
from the Late Triassic of Texas, USA and its implications for early
dinosaur evolution. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 63(1), 129-145.
Buriolestes Cabreira, Kellner, Dias-da-Silva, da Silva, Bronzati, de Almeida Marsola, M�ller, de Souza
Bittencourt, Batista, Raugust and Carrilho, 2016
B. schultzi Cabreira, Kellner, Dias-da-Silva, da Silva, Bronzati, de Almeida Marsola, M�ller, de Souza
Bittencourt, Batista, Raugust and Carrilho, 2016
Middle Carnian, Late Triassic
Buriol, Alemoa Member of Santa Maria Formation, Brazil
Holotype- (ULBRA-PVT280) frontal, parietal, ventral
skull, mandible, hyoid, (?)tenth-sixteenth dorsal vertebrae,
first-third sacral vertebrae, first-forty-second caudal vertebrae, two
chevrons(?), scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, manual elements(?), ilia,
partial pubis, ischia, femur, tibia, fibula, incomplete astragalus,
calcaneum, distal tarsal III, distal tarsal IV, metatarsal I, phalanx
I-1, pedal ungual I, metatarsal II, phalanx II-1, phalanx II-2,
proximal pedal ungual II, metatarsal III, phalanx III-1, phalanx
III-2(?), pedal ungual III, metatarsal IV, phalanx IV-1, phalanx IV-2,
phalanx IV-3, phalanx IV-4, pedal ungual IV, metatarsal V
Referred- (CAPPA/UFSM 0035)
(6.65 kg CF04) incomplete skull, incomplete mandibles (111.75 mm),
hyoids (one incomplete; 34 mm), proatlas, atlantal intercentrum (4.5
mm), atlantal neural arches, axis (18 mm), third-ninth cervical
vertebrae (c3 23, c9 15 mm), three cervical ribs, first-sixteenth
dorsal vertebrae (d1 15, d5 17, d6 17.5, d16 ~18 mm), twelve partial
dorsal ribs, first sacral vertebra (18.5 mm), second sacral vertebra
(18.5 mm), partial scapula, partial coracoid, proximal humerus, ilia
(76 mm), proximal pubes, ischial fragment, femora (one fragmentary; 136
mm), incomplete tibia, incomplete fibula, phalanx III-1 (20 mm),
phalanx III-2 (16.5 mm), phalanx III-3 (13 mm), proximal pedal ungual
III, incomplete phalanx IV-2, phalanx IV-3 (~8 mm), phalanx IV-4 (~8
mm), pedal ungual IV (14 mm) (M�ller, Langer, Bronzati, Pacheco,
Cabreira and Dias-Da-Silva, 2018)
?(CAPPA/UFSM 0179) partial axis (~20 mm) (M�ller, Pretto, Stefanello, Silva-Neves and Dias-Da-Silva, 2017)
?(CAPPA/UFSM 0269) (M�ller, Langer, Bronzati, Pacheco, Cabreira and Dias-Da-Silva, 2018)
?(ULBRA-PVT056) (juvenile?) two cervical vertebrae, ilium, proximal
pubis, femur (89 mm), few pedal phalanges (M�ller, Langer, Bronzati,
Pacheco, Cabreira and Dias-Da-Silva, 2018)
?(ULBRA-PVT289) femur (~118 mm) (M�ller, Langer, Bronzati, Pacheco, Cabreira and Dias-Da-Silva, 2018)
Diagnosis- (after Cabreira et al., 2016) posterior process on the medial condyle of the tibia, medial to the intercondylar notch.
Comments- The holotype was
discovered in 2009 and preliminarily described by Cabreira et al.
(2016). The materials list says "few pre-sacral" vertebrae were
found and the skeletal reconstruction shows seven posteriormost dorsals
with the first three only preserving their centra. No chevrons
are mentioned but the reconstruction shows the first two, and the
forelimb is said to be "lacking most of the manus" but no manual
elements at all are included in the reconstruction.
Discovered in 2015, CAPPA/UFSM 0035 was described by M�ller et al.
(2018) as an additional specimen from the same locality. M�ller
et al. (2021) later described the braincase.
M�ller et al. (2017) recovered axis CAPPA/UFSM 0179 as an avepod using
Cabreira et al.'s dinosauromorph matrix based on a dorsal margin of the
axial neural spine that arcs dorsally, but were cautious because
the axis had yet to be scored in the contemporaneous basal
sauropodomorph Buriolestes. This turned out to be prescient
because
the axis of Buriolestes
specimen CAPPA/UFSM 0035 was later described
and has this same character and very similar morphology. M�ller
et al. (2018) also mentions two additional specimens from the same
locality. ULBRA-PVT289 is a slightly smaller femur whose
"morphology matches those of the femora of CAPPA/UFSM 0035 and
ULBRA-PVT280, including the presence of a marked protuberance between
the craniomedial crest and the dorsolateral trochanter of the
femur." The latter feature is also present in the right femur of
the Pampadromaeus
holotype. ULBRA-PVT056 is a much smaller fragmentary skeleton
that "lacks several muscle attachment structures that are present in
the femora of both ULBRA-PVT280 and CAPPA/UFSM 0035." M�ller and
Garcia (2020) elaborated, stating its postacetabular process "presents
faint muscle scars and [it] has a proportionally longer ilium than
larger specimens, no trochanteric shelf and a more proximally placed
fourth trochanter. Garcia et al. (2019) figure the ilium and also
propose the more pointed preacetabular process is an ontogenetic
difference. In all three of these more fragmentary specimens,
referral to Buriolestes seems
due more to locality than anatomy, and indeed M�ller and Garcia
explicitly found the ilium and femur of ULBRA-PVT056 were more
different from the two larger skeletons (15.8%) than the latter were
from other related taxa (Eoraptor 9.4%, Pampadromaeus 9.4%, Saturnalia
12.2%). While this is a plausible hypothesis, basal saurischian
synsacrum CAPPA/UFSM 0228 from the same site is fused despite being
smaller than the unfused CAPPA/UFSM 0035, which may indicate additional
taxa are present or may be individual variation. Until the
fragmentary specimens are referred based on a combination of
characters, they are only provisionally placed here.
References-
Cabreira, Kellner, Dias-da-Silva, da Silva, Bronzati, de Almeida Marsola, M�ller, de Souza
Bittencourt, Batista, Raugust and Carrilho, 2016. A
unique Late Triassic dinosauromorph assemblage reveals dinosaur
ancestral anatomy and diet. Current Biology. 26(22), 3090-3095.
M�ller, Pretto, Stefanello, Silva-Neves and Dias-Da-Silva, 2017. On a
dinosaur axis from one of the oldest dinosaur-bearing sites worldwide.
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 62(3), 543-548.
M�ller, Langer, Bronzati, Pacheco, Cabreira and Dias-Da-Silva, 2018.
Early evolution of sauropodomorphs: Anatomy and phylogenetic
relationships of a remarkably well-preserved dinosaur from the Upper
Triassic of southern Brazil. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
184(4), 1187-1248.
Garcia, Pretto, Dias-Da-Silva and M�ller, 2019. A dinosaur ilium from
the Late Triassic of Brazil with comments on key-character supporting
Saturnaliinae. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ci�ncias. 91(Suppl. 2),
e20180614.
M�ller and Garcia, 2020 (online 2019). Rise of an empire: Analysing the
high diversity of the earliest sauropodomorph dinosaurs through
distinct hypotheses. Historical Biology. 32(10), 1334-1339.
M�ller, Ferreira, Pretto, Bronzati and Kerber, 2021 (online 2020). The endocranial anatomy of Buriolestes schultzi
(Dinosauria: Saurischia) and the early evolution of brain tissues in
sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Journal of Anatomy. 238(4), 809-827.
Mbiresaurus
Panphagia Martinez and Alcober,
2009
P. protos Martinez and Alcober, 2009
Late Carnian, Late Triassic
Cancha de Bochas Member of the Ischigualasto Formation, San Juan, Argentina
Holotype- (PVSJ 874) (~1.3 m juvenile) nasal, prefrontal, frontal (43.2
mm), parietals, quadrates (30.4, 30.9 mm), prootic, supraoccipital, mandibles
(one incomplete, one partial; ~121.1 mm), fourth(?) cervical vertebra (25.7
mm), seventh(?) cervical vertebra (24.6 mm), eighth(?) cervical vertebra, cervical
ribs, four posterior dorsal neural arches, posterior dorsal centrum (19.8 mm),
anterior or mid dorsal rib, first primordial sacral vertebra (21.9 mm), two
proximal caudal vertebrae, mid caudal vertebra, fifteen distal caudal vertebrae,
chevrons, scapula (91.9 mm), incomplete ilium (46.1 mm), incomplete pubis, ischium
(113.4 mm), tibia (157 mm), astragalus (25.4 mm transversely), metatarsal III
(77.3 mm), proximal metatarsal IV, three pedal phalanges, pedal ungual III
Diagnosis- (after Martinez and Alcober, 2009) anteroposteriorly elongated
fossa on base of anteroventral nasal process; wide lateral flange on quadrate
with large foramen located far from shaft; deep groove on lateral surface of
mandible surrounded by prominent dorsal and ventral ridges, extending from position
of ninth tooth to surangular foramen; posteroventral process of dentary bifurcated
into slender rami that overlap lateral surface of angular; long retroarticular
process of articular transversally wider than articular area for quadrate; oval
scars on lateral surface of posterior border of cervical centra; distinct prominences
located posterodorsally to diapophyses on anterior cervical neural arches; distal
end of scapular blade nearly three times wider than neck; scapular blade with
expanded posterodistal corner limited by wedged posterior border; medial lamina
of brevis fossa twice wider
than iliac spine.
Comments- The holotype was discovered in 2006 and described briefly by
Martinez and Alcober in 2009. Martinez et al. (2013) later described the braincase
in depth.
Martinez and Alcober entered it into Langer's dinosaur matrix and recovered
it as a sauropodomorph sister to Saturnalia and more derived taxa. It
has since been found as a basal sauropodomorph in various positions in other
matrices.
References- Martinez and Alcober, 2009. A basal sauropodomorph (Dinosauria:
Saurischia) from the Ischigualasto Formation (Triassic, Carnian) and the early
evolution of Sauropodomorpha. PLoS ONE. 4(2), e4397.
Mart�nez , Haro and Apaldetti, 2013. Braincase of Panphagia protos
(Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32(Supplement
to 6), 70-82.
Pampadromaeus Cabreira,
Schultz, Bittencourt, Soares, Fortier, Silva and Langer, 2011
P. barberenai Cabreira, Schultz, Bittencourt, Soares, Fortier,
Silva and Langer, 2011
Late Carnian, Late Triassic
Janner Site, Alemoa Member of Santa Maria Formation, Brazil
Holotype-
(ULBRA-PVT016) (~2.5 kg CF04) incomplete skull, partial mandibles, atlantal
neurapophysis, axis (~20 mm), third cervical neural arch, two cervical
ribs, two incomplete anterior dorsal vertebrae (24
mm), nine mid dorsal vertebrae (18-24 mm; two partial), about twelve
dorsal ribs (some fragmentary), primordial two sacral
vertebrae (~23, ~23 mm), partial proximal caudal vertebra, five mid
caudal vertebrae (~20, ~20, 19, ~15, ~15 mm), eleven distal caudal
vertebrae (19, ~15, ~15, ~15, ~17, ~17 mm), eight chevrons,
scapulae (~104 mm; one partial), incomplete humerus (~85 mm),
incomplete ulna(?), incomplete ilia, proximal ischium, femora (one
incomplete, one partial), incomplete tibiae, incomplete fibulae,
metatarsal I (45 mm), metatarsals II
(72 mm; one distal), distal metatarsals III, metatarsal IV (70 mm),
phalanx IV-1
(26 mm), pedal phalanx (919 mm)
Referred- (CAPPA/UFSM 0027) femur (~142 mm) (M�ller, Langer,
Cabreira and Silva, 2016)
(CAPPA/UFSM 0028) (juvenile) femur (113 mm) (M�ller, Langer, Pacheco and Dias-da-Silva, 2019)
Diagnosis- (after Cabreira et al., 2011) head longer than two thirds
of femoral length; premaxilla with short subnarial process; concave ventral
margin of premaxilla-maxilla articulation; premaxilla and dentary with unserrated
anteriormost tooth crowns; most teeth lanceolate with coarse denticles along
carinae; sacral vertebrae with dorsoventrally expanded ribs; femur with reduced
medial tuberosity and well-developed trochanteric shelf, epipodium significantly
longer than femur.
(after Muller et al., 2016) distal femur with lateral condyle lateromedially
narrow.
(after Langer et al., 2019) partially fused zygapophyses in the
primordial sacral pair; ulna longer than 80 percent the humeral length
(ulna possibly incorrectly referred); metatarsal 1 with an
L-shaped proximal outline, including a lateral expansion that covers
part of the cranial surface of metatarsal II.
Other diagnoses- Cabreira et al. (2011) listed 'no inset of first premaxillary
or dentary tooth', but Sereno et al. (2013) noted the first dentary tooth is
outside the more posteriorly located alveolus.
Comments-
The holotype was discovered by 2006 and initially announced by Langer
et al. (2011). Langer et al. (2019) reidentified the jugal as
exposed in medial view, and noted the ulna "is nearly the same length
as the preserved part of the humerus and relatively more robust", but
maintained its referral as "its anatomy matches what would be expected
for an early dinosaur ulna and there is no clear evidence of other taxa
in the sample."
Pampadromaeus was added to four analyses by
Cabreira et al. (2011) and found to be a basal sauropodomorph in all.
References- Cabreira, Schultz, Bittencourt, Soares, Fortier, Silva and
Langer, 2011. New stem-sauropodomorph (Dinosauria, Saurischia) from the Triassic
of Brazil. Naturwissenschaften. 98(12), 1035-1040.
Langer, Cabreira, Bittencourt and Schultz, 2011. A new eusaurischian from the
Santa Maria Formation, Late Triassic of Brazil, highlights mosaic pattern of
character evolution during the rise of dinosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Program and Abstracts 2011, 140-141.
Sereno, Martinez and Alcober, 2013. Osteology of Eoraptor lunensis (Dinosauria,
Sauropodomorpha). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32(Supplement to 6), 83-179.
M�ller, Langer, Cabreira and Silva, 2016 (online 2015). The femoral anatomy of Pampadromaeus
barberenai based on a new specimen from the Upper Triassic of Brazil. Historical
Biology. 28(5), 656-665.
Langer, McPhee, Marsola, Roberto-da-Silva and Cabreira, 2019. Anatomy of the dinosaur Pampadromaeus barberenai (Saurischia - Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation of southern Brazil. PLoS ONE. 14(2), e0212543.
M�ller, Langer, Pacheco and Dias-da-Silva, 2019 (online 2017). The role
of ontogeny on character polarization in early dinosaurs: A new
specimen from the Late Triassic of southern Brazil and its
implications. Historical Biology. 31(6), 794-805.
Saturnaliidae Ezcurra, 2010 vide Langer, McPhee, Marsola, Roberto-da-Silva and Cabreira, 2019
Definition- (Saturnalia tupiniquim <- Plateosaurus engelhardti) (Langer, McPhee, Marsola, Roberto-da-Silva and Cabreira, 2019)
Reference- Langer, McPhee, Marsola, Roberto-da-Silva and Cabreira, 2019. Anatomy of the dinosaur Pampadromaeus barberenai (Saurischia - Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation of southern Brazil. PLoS ONE. 14(2), e0212543.
Saturnaliinae Ezcurra, 2010
Definition- (Saturnalia tupiniquim + Chromogisaurus novasi)
(Ezcurra, 2010)
Reference- Ezcurra, 2010. A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha)
from the Late Triassic of Argentina: A reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny.
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 8(3), 371-425.
Chromogisaurus Ezcurra, 2010
C. novasi Ezcurra, 2010
Late Carnian, Late Triassic
Cancha de Bochas Member of the Ischigualasto Formation, San Juan, Argentina
Holotype- (PVSJ 845) (subadult or adult) proximal (~4-6) caudal vertebra
(24.7 mm), two mid (~14-16) caudal vertebrae (25.4 mm), incomplete proximal
chevron, scapulocoracoid fragment, ilia (one incomplete, one fragmentary), femora
(one partial, one incomplete), tibiae (one proximal; 175 mm), fibulae (one proximal,
one fragmentary), incomplete metatarsal II (~70 mm), phalanx III-2 (19.6 mm),
phalanx III-3 (17.1 mm), pedal ungual III
Diagnosis- (after Ezcurra, 2008) low lateral projection of supraacetabular
crest; metatarsal II with strongly dorsoventrally asymmetric distal condyles.
(after Ezcurra, 2010) strongly posteriorly developed postacetabular process.
(after Martinez et al., 2013) strongly concave acetabular surface of supraacetabular
crest; femoral lateral condyle smaller than medial condyle; medial surface of
proximal fibula with elongate rugosity adjacent to anterior margin of shaft.
Other diagnoses- Ezcurra (2010) listed proximal caudals without median
notch separating postzygapophyses, but as Martinez et al. (2013) noted the notch
is present. The deep and large fossa immediately below the trochanteric shelf
listed by Ezcurra (2008, 2010) was determined to be taphonomic by Martinez et
al.. The incipiently perforated ilial acetabulum listed by Ezcurra (2010) is
also found in Saturnalia, Panphagia, Pampadromaeus, Agnosphitys
and Guaibasaurus.
Comments- The holotype was discovered in 1988, initially announced by
Ezcurra (2008) then described by him in 2010, and finally redescribed by Martinez
et al. (2013). Ezcurra originally identified the chevron as metatarsal V, pedal
digit III as II, a rhynchosaur (Scaphonyx?) posterior mandible as a Chromogisaurus'
posterior mandible (2008) then as a proximal ulna (2010), and an indeterminate
bone possibly not belonging to the taxon as a partial ischium.
Ezcurra (2008, 2010) found Chromogisaurus to be sister to Saturnalia
in Guaibasauridae using a version of Yates' matrix. Martinez et al. modified
the matrix and still found it sister to Saturnalia, but more derived
than Panphagia, the newly included Pampadromaeus and the newly
sauropodomorphan Eoraptor.
References- Ezcurra, 2008. A new early dinosaur from the Carnian Ischigualasto
Formation (NW Argentina) and the origin of dinosaurs. Libro de Resumenes, III
Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontolog�a de Vertebrados. Neuquen, Patagonia,
Argentina. 87.
Ezcurra, 2010. A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late
Triassic of Argentina: A reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny. Journal
of Systematic Palaeontology. 8(3), 371-425.
Martinez, Apaldetti and Abelin, 2013. Basal sauropodomorphs from the Ischigualasto
Formation. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32(Supplement to 6), 51-69.
Saturnalia Langer, Abdala,
Richter and Benton, 1999
S. tupiniquim Langer, Abdala, Richter and Benton, 1999
Middle Carnian, Late Triassic
Cerro da Alemoa, Alemoa Member of Santa Maria Formation, Brazil
Holotype- (MCP 3844-PV) (6.5 kg CF04) cervical vertebrae 3-10, cervical ribs, fourteen
dorsal vertebrae, dorsal ribs, first sacral vertebra (23 mm), second sacral
vertebra (25 mm), third sacral vertebra (26 mm), first caudal vertebra, partial
scapulacoracoid (scapula 111 mm), humerus (97 mm), radius (61 mm), incomplete
ulna, ilia (~90 mm), pubes (127, 121 mm), ischia (121, 132 mm), femora (152,
157 mm), tibia (158 mm), fibula (154 mm), astragalus, calcaneum, distal tarsal
IV, metatarsal I (46 mm), metatarsal II (70 mm), metatarsal III (84 mm), metatarsal
IV (74 mm), metatarsal V (38 mm)
Paratypes-
(MCP 3845-PV) partial skull (~90-103 mm), (mandible ~80-102 mm) partial
dentaries, partial axis (22 mm), third cervical vertebra (22.47 mm),
incomplete fourth cervical vertebra, partial fifth cervical vertebra
(23.88 mm), incomplete sixth cervical vertebra (23.13 mm), incomplete
seventh cervical vertebra (22.48 mm), eighth cervical vertebra (20.25
mm), ninth cervical vertebra (18.3 mm), first dorsal vertebra (17.67
mm), second dorsal vertebra (16.79 mm), third dorsal vertebra (17.9
mm), fourth dorsal vertebra (20.2 mm), sixth dorsal vertebra (21.9 mm),
seventh dorsal vertebra (22.85 mm), eighth dorsal vertebra (23.76 mm),
ninth dorsal vertebra (23.72 mm), tenth dorsal vertebra (23.75 mm),
eleventh dorsal vertebra (23.29 mm), twelfth dorsal vertebra (24.26
mm), thirteenth dorsal vertebra (22.88 mm), incomplete scapulacoracoids
(scapula 99, 98 mm), partial humerus (98 mm), proximal ulna, ilium (83
mm), pubis (~102 mm), ischium (~96 mm), femora (156 mm), tibiae (one
fragmentary; 155 mm), fibulae (one fragmentary; 154 mm), astragalus,
distal tarsal III, distal tarsal IV, partial metatarsal I, partial
metatarsals II, pedal ungual II (22 mm), partial metatarsal III,
phalanx III-1 (24 mm), phalanx III-2 (19 mm), phalanx III-3 (15 mm),
pedal ungual III (~20 mm), partial metatarsal IV, phalanx IV-1 (14 mm),
phalanx IV-2 (10 mm), phalanx IV-3 (9 mm), phalanx IV-4 (11 mm), pedal
ungual IV (~17 mm), metatarsal V (40 mm)
(MCP 3846-PV) dorsal vertebrae, partial tibia, partial fibula, metatarsal IV
(73 mm)
Diagnosis- (after Langer et al., 1999) skull about a third of femoral
length; lanceolate teeth; deltopectoral crest extends more than half of humeral
length; preacetabular process short and pointed; acetabulum not fully opened;
deep proximal pubis; lateral pubic border robust and triangular distally; femorotibial
ratio subequal; well developed trochanteric shelf; ascending process broad and
laterally elongated.
(after Langer, 2001) proximal portion of ulna much broader than shaft area (twice
as broad anteroposteriorly, three times as broad lateromedially); olecranon
process extremely elongated; antitrochanter occupies entire acetabular incisure
of that bone; deeply excavated ischio-acetabular groove of pubis; marked distal
ridge in posterior process of distal tarsal IV.
Comments- The holotype and paratypes were discovered in early 1998.
Not Saturnalia- Langer (2001) referred a proximal femur from the
Pebbly Arkose Formation of Zimbabwe to Saturnalia, but Ezcurra (2012)
noted the combination of features is more widely distributed so that it can
only be identified as Saurischia indet..
References- Langer, Abdala, Richter and Benton, 1999. A sauropodomorph
dinosaur from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) of Southern Brazil. Comptes Rendus
de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, Sciences de la Terre et des Planetes. 329,
511-517.
Langer, 2001. Saturnalia tupiniquim and the early evolution of dinosaurs.
PhD thesis, University of Bristol. 371 pp.
Langer, 2003. The pelvic and hind limb anatomy of the stem-sauropodomorph Saturnalia
tupiniquim (Late Triassic, Brazil). Paleobios. 23(2), 1-40.
Langer, 2005. Saturnalia tupiniquim and the origin of sauropodomorphs.
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25(3), 82A.
Langer and Benton, 2006. Early dinosaurs: A phylogenetic study. Journal of Systematic
Palaeontology. 4(4), 309-358.
Langer, Franca and Gabriel, 2007. The pectoral girdle and forelimb anatomy of
the stem-sauropodomorph Saturnalia tupiniquim (Upper Triassic, Brazil).
Special Papers in Palaeontology. 77, 113-137.
Stein and Langer, 2009. The long bone histology of the stem-sauropodomorph Saturnalia
tupiniquim, implications for the early evolution of dinosaur bone microstructure.
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29(3), 185A.
Ezcurra, 2012. Comments on the taxonomic diversity and paleobiogeography of
the earliest known dinosaur assemblages (Late Carnian-Earliest Norian). Historia
Natural. 2(1), 49-71.
Bronzati, Langer and Rauhut, 2014. The braincase of Saturnalia tupiniquim
and the evolution of the braincase in Sauropodomorpha. Journal of Vertebrate
Paleontology. Program and Abstracts 2014, 98.
Bronzati, 2017. Braincase anatomy in non-neosauropodan sauropodomorphs:
Evolutionary and functional aspects. PhD thesis, Ludwig-
Maximilians-Universit�t M�nchen. 289 pp.
Bronzati, Rauhut, Bittencourt and Langer, 2017. Endocast of the Late Triassic (Carnian) dinosaur Saturnalia tupiniquim: Implications for the evolution of brain tissue in Sauropodomorpha. Scientific Reports. 7:11931.
Bronzati, Langer and Rauhut, 2019 (as 2018). Braincase anatomy of the early sauropodomorph Saturnalia tupiniquim (Late Triassic, Brazil). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 38(5), e1559173.
Bronzati, M�ller and Langer, 2019. Skull remains of the dinosaur
Saturnalia tupiniquim (Late Triassic, Brazil): With comments on the
early evolution of sauropodomorph feeding behaviour. PLoS ONE. 14(9),
e0221387.
Bagualosauria Langer, McPhee, Marsola, Roberto-da-Silva and Cabreira, 2019
Definition- (Bagualosaurus agudoensis + Saltasaurus loricatus) (Langer, McPhee, Marsola, Roberto-da-Silva and Cabreira, 2019)
Reference- Langer, McPhee, Marsola, Roberto-da-Silva and Cabreira, 2019. Anatomy of the dinosaur Pampadromaeus barberenai (Saurischia - Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation of southern Brazil. PLoS ONE. 14(2), e0212543.
Bagualosaurus
Thecodontosauridae Lydekker, 1890
= Thecodontosauria Huxley, 1869
References- Huxley, 1869. Triassic Dinosauria. Nature. 1(1), 23-24.
Lydekker, 1890. Catalogue of the fossil Reptilia and Amphibia in the British
Museum. Part IV. Containing the orders Anomodontia, Ecaudata, Caudata and Labyrinthodontia;
and supplement. 295 pp.
Thecodontosaurus Riley and Stutchbury, 1840
T. antiquus Riley and Stutchbury vide Owen, 1842
Holotype- (BRSMG Ca7465; = BCM 1; lost) dentary
Neotype- (BRSMG Ca4529; = BCM 2) dentary (Huxley, 1870)
Referred- (ANSP 9865a) partial posterior dorsal vertebra
(ANSP 9870c) partial mid dorsal neural arch
(BRSMG Cb4154; = BCM 12) partial posterior dorsal vertebra (Benton et al., 2000)
(BRSMG Cb4155; = BCM 11) anterior dorsal neural arch (Benton et al., 2000)
(BRSMG Cb4174b; = BCM 41) partial mid dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Cb4180; = BCM 58) anterior dorsal rib (Benton et al., 2000)
(BRSMG Cb4182; = BCM 69) partial mid dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Cb4196) three partial dorsal ribs (Benton et al., 2000)
(BRSMG Cb4221) partial posterior dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Cb4293) partial posterior dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG C4533; = BCM 8) incomplete posterior dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Ca7452; = BCM 26; lost) partial posterior dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Ca7457e; = BCM 63; lost) posterior cervical rib (Seeley, 1895)
(BRSMG Ca7467) fifth cervical neural arch (Benton et al., 2000)
(BRSMG Ca7469; = BCM 13; lost) partial mid dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Ca7470; = BCM 9; lost) partial posterior dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Ca7471; = BCM 20; lost) incomplete posterior dorsal vertebra
(BRSMG Ca7472; = BCM 16; lost) partial anterior cervical centrum (Huene, 1908)
(BRSMG Ca7496; = BCM 5) distal dorsal rib (Huene, 1908)
(BRSMG Ca7503; = BCM 38; lost) proximal anterior dorsal rib (Riley and Stutchbury,
1840)
(YPM 2192) braincase (Huene, 1908)
(YPM 2195a; holotype of Asylosaurus) partial anterior cervical vertebra,
two middle dorsal vertebrae, proximal dorsal rib, (Galton and Cluver, 1976)
(YPM 56719) partial mid dorsal vertebra (Benton et al., 2000)
(YPM 56720) partial fifth cervical vertebra, incomplete sixth cervical vertebra
(Huene, 1908)
(YPM 56722) incomplete mid dorsal vertebra (Huene, 1908)
Comments- The type dentary was discovered in 1834, and destroyed in 1940.
[referred materials list is incomplete]
References- Anonymous [Conybeare], 1834. Discovery of saurian bones in
the Magnesian Conglomerate near Bristol. London, Edinburgh and Dublin. Philosophical
Magazine and Journal of Science. 3(5), 463.
Riley and Stutchbury, 1836a. A description of various remains of three distinct
saurian animals discovered in the Autumn of 1834, in the Magnesian Conglomerate
on Durdham Down, near Bristol. Proceedings of the Geological Society of London.
2(45), 397-399.
Riley and Stutchbury, 1840. A description of various remains of three distinct
saurian animals, recently discovered in the Magnesian Conglomerate near Bristol.
Transactions of the Geological Society of London. 2(5), 349-357.
Owen, 1841. Odontography; or a Treatse on the Comparative Anatomy of the Teeth.
I. Part II. Dental System of Reptiles. Hippolyte Bailliere, London. 179-295.
Owen, 1842a. Report on British fossil reptiles. Part II. Association for the
Advancement of Science, Annual Report for 1841. 9, 60-204.
Huxley, 1870. On the classification of the Dinosauria, with observations on
the Dinosauria of the Trias. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of
London. 26 : 32-51.
Seeley, 1895. On Thecodontosaurus and Palaeosaurus. Annals and
Magazine of Natural History. 6(15), 144-163.
Huene, 1908a. Die Dinosaurier der europ�ischen Triasformation mit Ber�cksichtigung
der aussereurop�ischen Vorkommnisse. Geologie und Pal�ontologie Abhandlungen.
, Suppl. 1, 419 pp.
Huene, 1914a. Nachtr�ge zu meinen fr�heren Beschreibaungen triassicher
Saurischia. Geologie und Pal�ontologie Abhandlungen. 13, 69-82.
Galton and Cluver, 1976. Anchisaurus capensis (Broom) and a revision
of the Anchisauridae (Reptilia, Saurischia). Annals of the South African Museum.
69, 121-159.
Benton, Juul, Storrs and Galton, 2000. Anatomy and systematics of the prosauropod
dinosaur Thecodontosaurus antiquus from the Upper Triassic of Southwest
England. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 20, 71-102.
Galton, 2007. Notes on the remains of archosaurian reptiles, mostly basal sauropodomorph
dinosaurs, from the 1834 fissure fill (Rhaetian, Upper Triassic) at Clifton
in Bristol, Southwest England. Revue de Pal�obiologie. 26(2), 505-591.
Pantydraco
Arcusaurus Yates, Bonnan
and Neveling, 2011
A. pereirabdalorum Yates, Bonnan and Neveling, 2011
Pliensbachian, Early Jurassic
Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa
Holotype- (BP/1/6235) (at least two individuals; juvenile) maxillary fragment,
three maxillary teeth, nasal (38 mm), postorbital, incomplete palatine, dentary
(71 mm), supradentary, distal caudal vertebra (18 mm)
Paratypes- ..(BP/1/6842) maxillary tooth
..(BP/1/6843) tooth
..(BP/1/6844) nasal
..(BP/1/6845) incomplete premaxilla
..(BP/1/6846) pedal phalanx ?IV-1
..(BP/1/6847) phalanx
..(BP/1/6848) incomplete pedal ungual I
..(BP/1/6849) incomplete pedal ungual III
..(BP/1/6850) distal humerus
..(BP/1/6851) second or third sacral centrum (31 mm)
..(BP/1/6853) incomplete dentary
..(BP/1/6925) laterosphenoid
..(BP/1/6926) ilial fragment
Diagnosis- (after Yates et al., 2011) horizontal medial shelf projecting
from dorsal margin of premaxillary body and offset posteriorly by notch; base
of posteromedial premaxillary process expanded into horizontal palatal shelf
that protrudes medially to contact its antimere; postorbital with articulation
surface for parietal on dorsally projecting, semilunate process; fine ridge
on nasal extending from medial edge of prefrontal embayment to a point near
center of bone; tongue-shaped anteroventral nasal process; dentary with single
enlarged neurovascular foramen opening near anterior tip of lateral surface;
distal caudal vertebra with dorsoventrally compressed centrum (anterior central
face 1.43 times wider than high).
Comments- The material was discovered between 2004 and 2007 and first
reported as a basal sauropodomorph in an abstract (Yates et al., 2007). Yates
et al. (2011) described Arcusaurus and found it emerges more derived
than Santurnalia and Pantydraco, but outside Thecodontosaurus,
Efraasia and plateosaurians in the Yates sauropodomorph matrix. Furthermore,
it emerged in a polytomy with Saturnalia, Thecodontosaurus and
Plateosauria when added to Upchurch et al.'s sauropodomorph matrix.
While the type individuals are juveniles, Yates et al. found they differ in
several ways from Aardonyx that aren't known to vary ontogenetically
in other sauropodomorphs. However, it did take only three additional steps to
place in Plateosauria, where it emerged sister to Aardonyx plus other
sauropodiforms. This surprisingly derived placement just basal to a taxon occuring
in the same assemblage is convenient considering juvenile individuals often
fall out basally to adults in analyses, so I feel the question of whether Arcusaurus
are juvenile Aardonyx remains viable.
References- Yates, Bonnan and Neveling, 2007. A new diverse dinosaur
assemblage from the Early Jurassic of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
27(3), 169A.
Yates, Bonnan and Neveling, 2011. A new basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the
Early Jurassic of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 31(3), 610-625.
Nambalia Novas, Ezcurra,
Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011
N. roychowdhurii Novas, Ezcurra, Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011
Late Norian-Early Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Upper Maleri Formation, India
Holotype- (ISI R273/1) incomplete ilium
....(ISI R273/2) femur
....(ISI R273/3) distal tibia, distal fibula, astragalus, calcaneum
Paratypes- (ISI R273/4) partial astragalus, metatarsal I, phalanx I-1,
pedal ungual I, metatarsal II, metatarsal III, metatarsal IV, metatarsal V,
phalanx V-1
....(ISI R273/5/1, 6/2, 7/2-4, 9, 13/2) metacarpal I, phalanx I-1, incomplete
manual ungual I, metacarpal II, phalanx II-1, phalanx II-2, incomplete manual
ungual II, phalanx III-1, phalanx III-2, phalanx III-3, manual ungual III
....(ISI R273/5/2, 6/3, 7/1, 15) pedal phalanx II-1, phalanx IV-1, phalanx IV-2,
phalanx IV-3, phalanx IV-4, pedal ungual IV
....(ISI R273/19-27) ten incomplete caudal vertebrae
....(ISI R273/28) proximal pubis
....(ISI R273/29) ischium
(ISI R273/7/5) manual ungual ?I
....(ISI R273/10) astragalus
....(ISI R273/11/3) manual ungual III
....(ISI R273/12/1, 13/1) metacarpal I, metacarpal II
....(ISI R273/12/2) manual phalanx II-2
....(ISI R273/12/3) manual phalanx III-3
....(ISI R273/13/3) pedal phalanx III-1
....(ISI R273/13/4) pedal ungual III
....(ISI R273/14/1) pedal phalanx I-1
....(ISI R273/14/2) manual phalanx II-1
....(ISI R273/14/3) pedal phalanx IV-2
Diagnosis- (after Novas et al., 2011) femur with almost transversely
unexpanded distal end; femur with shallow anterior intercondylar groove; astragalus
with pit on anterior surface of ascending process; astragalar anterolateral
process larger than posterolateral process in dorsal view; straight astragalar
ventral margin in anterior view; subtriangular astragalar medial condyle in
anterior view.
Comments- The material was probably discovered between 2006 and 2009
and was initally announced by Novas et al. (2009) as a taxon "closely related
with plateosaurians". Novas et al. (2011) found Nambalia to be more
derived than Thecodontosaurus and Pantydraco but outside the Efraasia+Plateosauria
clade when added to a version of Yates' sauropodomorph matrix.
References- Novas, Chatterjee, Ezcurra and Kutty, 2009. New dinosaur
remains from the Late Triassic of central India. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
29(3), 156A.
Novas, Ezcurra, Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011. New dinosaur species from the Upper
Triassic Upper Maleri and Lower Dharmaram Formations of central India. Earth
and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 101,
333-349.
Lamplughsaura
Efraasia
E. minor
Late Norian, Late Triassic
Trossingen Formation, Halberstadt, Germany
Referred- (MB Fund. Nr. IV in part) posterior
dorsal centrum (33 mm), two partial distal caudal vertebrae (~27 mm),
partial ilium, incomplete pubis (180 mm), femur (lost) (Jaekel, 1914)
Comments- Jaekel (1914) reported Fund. Nr. IV as a small dinosaur with
theropod-type teeth (ziphodont and finely serrated) and postcrania
consisting of "a
femur, an os pubis, an ilium, several vertebrae of the sacral and tail
region." Sander (1992) mentioned it as "theropod postcranial remains
which were briefly described by Jaekel (1914a, p. 195) as indeterminate
carnosaur" which he "listed as pertaining to cf. Liliensternus."
However, Huene (1932) described the postcrania as cf. Palaeosaurus (?)
sp. (aff. diagnosticus), which by that time consisted only of a
posterior dorsal centrum, two partial distal caudal vertebrae, a
partial ilium and incomplete pubis. It shows the squared
postacetabular process and hypertrophied semilunate pubic tubercle
Yates (2003) found diagnostic of Efraasia minor, so is here referred to that
taxon. It is unknown whether the theropod teeth were lost or
recatalogued.
References- Jaekel, 1914. �ber die Wirbeltierfunde in der oberen
Trias von Halberstadt.
Pal�ontologische Zeitschrift. 1, 155-215.
Huene, 1932. Die fossile Reptil-Ordnung Saurischia, ihre Entwicklung und Geschichte.
Monographien zur Geologie und Palaeontologie. 4(1), 361 pp.
Sander, 1992. The Norian Plateosaurus bonebeds of central Europe and
their taphonomy. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 93, 255-296.
Yates, 2003. The species taxonomy of the sauropodomorph dinosaurs from
the L�wenstein Formation (Norian, Late Triassic) of Germany.
Palaeontology. 46(2), 317-337.
Xixiposaurus
Plateosauria Tornier, 1913
Definition- (Plateosaurus engelhardti + Massospondylus carinatus)
(modified from Sereno, 1998)
Other definitions- (Plateosaurus engelhardti + Jingshanosaurus
xinwaensis) (modified from Galton and Upchurch, 2004)
(Plateosaurus engelhardti, Massospondylus carinatus <- Saltasaurus
loricatus) (Sereno, 2007)
Comments- Tornier (1913) originally used Plateosauria as an alternative
name for Theropoda, which also contained basal sauropodomorphs at the time.
References- Tornier, 1913. Reptilia (Pal�ontologie). Handw�rterbuch
Naturwissenschaften. 8, 337-376.
Sereno, 1998. A rationale for phylogenetic definitions, with application to
the higher-level taxonomy of Dinosauria. Neues Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und
Pal�ontologie Abhandlungen. 210, 41-83.
Galton and Upchurch, 2004. Prosauropoda. In Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska
(eds.). The Dinosauria (second edition). University of California Press, Berkeley.
232-258.
Sereno, 2007. Basal Sauropodomorpha: Historical and recent phylogenetic hypotheses,
with comments on Ammosaurus major (Marsh, 1889). Special Papers in Palaeontology.
77, 261-289.
Euskelosaurus
Prosauropoda Huene, 1920
Definition- (Plateosaurus engelhardti <- Saltasaurus loricatus)
(Wilson, 2005; modified from Sereno, 1998)
Other definitions- (Thecodontosaurus antiquus, Plateosaurus engelhardti,
Melanorosaurus readi <- Diplodocus longus) (modified from Upchurch,
1997)
(Plateosaurus engelhardti, Riojasaurus incertus, Massospondylus
carinatus, Lufengosaurus huenei, Yunnanosaurus huangi <-
Saltasaurus loricatus) (Sereno, 2007)
References- Huene, 1920. Bemerkungen zur Systematik und Stammesgeschichte
einiger Reptilien [Remarks on the systematics and phylogeny of some reptiles].
Zeitschrift f�r Induktive Abstammungs und Vererbungslehre. 22, 209-212.
Upchurch, 1997. Sauropodomorpha. In Currie and Padian (eds.). Encyclopedia of
Dinosaurs. Academic Press, San Diego. 658-660.
Wilson, 2005. Overview of sauropod phylogeny and evolution. in Curry Rogers
and Wilson (eds.). The Sauropods: Evolution and Paleobiology. University of
California Press, Berkeley. 15-49.
Sereno, 2007. Basal Sauropodomorpha: Historical and recent phylogenetic hypotheses,
with comments on Ammosaurus major (Marsh, 1889). Special Papers in Palaeontology.
77, 261-289.
Plateosauridae Marsh, 1895
Definition- (Plateosaurus engelhardti <- Massospondylus
carinatus) (modified from Sereno, 1998)
Other definitions- (Plateosaurus engelhardti <- Massospondylus
carinatus, Yunnanosaurus huangi) (modified from Galton and Upchurch,
2004)
(Plateosaurus engelhardti <- Massospondylus carinatus, Saltasaurus
loricatus) (Sereno, 2007)
(Plateosaurus engelhardti <- Diplodocus longus) (modified from
Yates, 2007)
= Sellosauridae Huene, 1908
= Plateosauravidae Huene, 1929
References- Marsh, 1895. On the affinities and classification of the
dinosaurian reptiles. American Journal of Science. 50, 483-498.
Huene, 1908. Die Dinosaurier der europ�ischen Triasformation mit Ber�cksichtiging
der aussereurop�ischen Vorkommnisse [The dinosaurs of the European Triassic
Formation, with consideration of non-European occurrences]. Geologische und
Pal�ontologische Abhandlungen Supplement-Band. 1, 419 pp.
Huene, 1929. Kurze �bersicht �ber die Saurischia und ihre nat�rlichen
Zusammenh�nge [A brief survey of the Saurischia and their natural context].
Pal�ontologische Zeitschrift. 11, 269-273.
Sereno, 1998. A rationale for phylogenetic definitions, with application to
the higher-level taxonomy of Dinosauria. Neues Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und
Pal�ontologie Abhandlungen. 210, 41-83.
Galton and Upchurch, 2004. Prosauropoda. In Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska
(eds.). The Dinosauria (second edition). University of California Press, Berkeley.
232-258.
Sereno, 2007. Basal Sauropodomorpha: Historical and recent phylogenetic hypotheses,
with comments on Ammosaurus major (Marsh, 1889). Special Papers in Palaeontology.
77, 261-289.
Yates, 2007. The first complete skull of the Triassic dinosaur Melanorosaurus
Haughton (Sauropodomorpha: Anchisauria). Special Papers in Palaeontology. 77,
9-55.
Plateosauravus
Ruehleia
Jaklapallisaurus Novas,
Ezcurra, Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011
J. asymmetrica Novas, Ezcurra, Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011
Late Norian-Early Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Upper Maleri Formation, India
Holotype- (ISI 274) fragmentary ?dorsal vertebra, proximal caudal vertebra,
distal femur, tibia, astragalus, incomplete metatarsal I, phalanx I-1, metatarsal
II, phalanx II-1, incomplete metatarsal III, incomplete metatarsal IV
Late Norian-Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Lower Dharmaram Formation, India
Paratype- (ISI R279) distal femur
Diagnosis- (after Novas et al., 2011) distal femur with widely transversely
open popliteal fossa in distal view; medial condyle of distal femur subtriangular
in distal view; distal femur with straight anterior margin; distal tibia with
concave posteromedial border; astragalar body with straight dorsal edge in posterior
view; medial astragalar condyle strongly developed anteriorly, with medial end
that is 1.6 times deeper than lateral one.
Comments- The material was probably discovered between 2006 and 2009
and was initally announced by Novas et al. (2009) as a taxon "closely related
with plateosaurians". Novas et al. (2011) found Jaklapallisaurus
to be in a polytomy with other plateosaurids when added to a version of Yates'
sauropodomorph matrix.
References- Novas, Chatterjee, Ezcurra and Kutty, 2009. New dinosaur
remains from the Late Triassic of central India. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
29(3), 156A.
Novas, Ezcurra, Chatterjee and Kutty, 2011. New dinosaur species from the Upper
Triassic Upper Maleri and Lower Dharmaram Formations of central India. Earth
and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 101,
333-349.
Unaysaurus
Sellosaurus
Gresslyosaurus Rutimeyer,
1856b
= "Dinosaurus" Rutimeyer, 1856a (preoccupied Fischer, 1847)
G. ingens Rutimeyer, 1856b
= "Dinosaurus gresslyi" Rutimeyer, 1856a
= Plateosaurus ingens (Rutimeyer, 1856b) Galton, 1998
= Plateosaurus gresslyi (Rutimeyer, 1856b) Olshevsky, 2000
= Gresslyosaurus gresslyi (Rutimeyer, 1856b) Olshevsky, 2000
Late Norian, Late Triassic
Gruhalde Member of the Klettgau Formation, Switzerland
Syntypes- (NMB NB10; lost) ilial fragment
(NMB NB24; lost) cervical central fragment
(NMB NB53; only cast remains) pedal ungual IV
(NMB NB530; lost) distal caudal vertebra
(NMB NB531; lost) chevron fragment
(NMB NB1521; lost) distal caudal vertebra
(NMB NB1572) caudal vertebra
(NMB NB1573) caudal vertebra
(NMB NB1574) caudal vertebra
(NMB NB1576) distal metatarsal V
(NMB NB1577) caudal vertebra
(NMB NB1578) metacarpal II
(NMB NB1582) proximal tibia
(NMB NB1584-1585) incomplete sacrum
(NMB NB1591) pedal phalanx
(NMB coll.; lost) distal tibia, proximal fibula (Huene, 1908)
Comments- Dinosaurus murchisoni (Fischer, 1845) Fischer, 1847
is a junior synonym of the anteosaurid synapsid Brithopus priscus. "Dinosaurus
gresslyi" was named without a description by Rutimeyer (1856a), so was
a nomen nudum. It needed to be renamed due to Fischer's genus anyway, so was
officially described as Gresslyosaurus ingens by Rutimeyer later that
year (1856b). As "Dinosaurus gresslyi" was invalid, Olshevsky's (2000)
claim the species name should still be gresslyi is incorrect. Gresslyosaurus
was often placed in Theropoda as related to supposed basal carnosaurs such as
teratosaurids or zanclodontids (both based on crurotarsan cranial elements mixed
with sauropodomorph postcrania). The species is now recognized as a plateosaurid
and is often placed in Plateosaurus itself, though this is a matter of
personal preference.
Type material no longer assigned to the syntype individual includes- (NMB NB1;
lost) proximal tibia; (NMB NB25; lost) anterior dorsal vertebra; (NMB NB618;
lost) coracoid; (NMB NB652; lost) tooth. These are from a smaller plateosaurid.
References- Fischer, 1845. Beitrag zur naeheren Bestimmung des von Hrn.
Wangenheim von Qualen abgebildeten und beschriebenen Saurier-Schaedels. Bulletin
de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. 18, 540-543.
Fischer, 1847. Bemerkungen uber das Schadel-Fragment, welches Herr Major Wangenheim
von Qualen in dem West-Ural entdeckt und der Gesellschaft zur Beurteilung vorgelegt
hat. Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. 20, 263-267.
Rutimeyer, 1856a. Dinosaurus gresslyi. Bibliotheque Universelle des Sciences
Belles-Lettres et Arts, Geneve. September, 53.
Rutimeyer, 1856b. Reptilienknochen aus dem Keuper. Allgemeine Schweizerische
Gesellschaft fur de Gesammten Naturwissenschaften. 41, 62-64.
Galton, 1998. The prosauropod dinosaur Plateosaurus (Dimodosaurus)
poligniensis (PIDANCET & CHOPARD, 1862) (Upper Triassic, Poligny, France).
N. Jb. Geol. Palaont. Abh. 207, 255-288.
Olshevsky, 2000. An annotated checklist of dinosaur species by continent. Mesozoic
Meanderings. 3, 1-157.
Moser, 2003. Plateosaurus engelhardti Meyer, 1837 (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha)
aus dem Feuerletten (Mittelkeuper; Obertrias) von Bayern. Zitteliana B. 24,
3-186.
Plateosaurinae Marsh, 1895 vide Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991
Plateosaurini Marsh, 1895 vide Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991
References- Marsh, 1895. On the affinities and classification of the
dinosaurian reptiles. American Journal of Science. 50, 483-498.
Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991. Late Triassic zoogeography and reconstruction
of the terrestrial tetrapod fauna of North Africa. Paleontological Journal.
1, 1-12.
Plateosaurus
Massopoda Yates, 2007
Definition- (Saltasaurus loricatus <- Plateosaurus engelhardti)
(after Yates, 2007)
References- Yates, 2007. Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: the identity of
Aliwalia rex Galton. Historical Biology. 19(1), 93-123.
Massopoda indet. (Owen, 1861)
Hettangian-Early Sinemurian, Early Jurassic
Blue Lias Formation, England
Material- (GSM 109561) ungual (74.5 mm)
Comments- Owen (1861) referred the ungual GSM 109561 to Scelidosaurus,
illustrated and described it. Newman (1968) stated it was "possibly the
terminal phalange of the first digit of a megalosaurian", while Benson
(2010) believed it to be an indeterminate theropod. Naish and Martill (2007)
referred it to Tetanurae without comment. Pickering (1995) referred it to "Merosaurus
newmani" without justification. However, compared to basal theropod pedal
unguals, GSM 109561 is much straighter, stouter, broader and lacks the dorsal
overhang on its proximal surface. A closer resemblence is seen to pedal unguals
of basal massopods like Blikanasaurus and Jingshanosaurus. It
is here provisionally referred to that clade.
References- Owen, 1861. Monograph of the fossil Reptilia of the Liassic
formations. Part I. A monograph of the fossil dinosaur (Scelidosaurus harrisonii
Owen) of the Lower Lias. Palaeontolographical Society Monographs. 13, 1-14.
Newman, 1968. The Jurassic dinosaur Scelidosaurus harrisoni Owen. Palaeontology.
11, 40-43.
Pickering, 1995b. An extract from: Archosauromorpha: Cladistics and osteologies.
A Fractal Scaling in Dinosaurology Project. 11 pp.
Naish and Martill, 2007. Dinosaurs of Great Britain and the role of the Geological
Society of London in their discovery: Basal Dinosauria and Saurischia. Journal
of the Geological Society. 164, 493-510.
Benson, 2010. The osteology of Magnosaurus nethercombensis (Dinosauria,
Theropoda) from the Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of the United Kingdom and a re-examination
of the oldest records of tetanurans. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 8(1),
131-146.
Riojasauridae Yates, 2007
Definition- (Riojasaurus incertus <- Plateosaurus engelhardti,
Massospondylus carinatus, Anchisaurus polyzelus)
References- Yates, 2007. Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: the identity of
Aliwalia rex Galton. Historical Biology. 19(1), 93-123.
Riojasaurus
Eucnemesaurus van Hoepen, 1920
= Aliwalia Galton, 1985
Diagnosis- (after Yates, 2007) abrupt proximal end of the anterior trochanter;
fourth trochanter with curved and oblique long axis.
References- van Hoepen, 1920. Contributions to the knowledge of the reptiles
of the Karroo Formation. 6. Further dinosaurian material in the Transvaal Museum.
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 7, 7-140.
Galton, 1985. The poposaurid thecodontian Teratosaurus suevicus v. Meyer,
plus referred specimens mostly based on prosauropod dinosaurs, from the Middle
Stubensandstein (Upper Triassic) of Nordwurttemberg. Stuttgarter Beitrage zur
Naturkunde (B). 116, 1-29.
Yates, 2007. Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: The identity of Aliwalia rex
Galton. Historical Biology. 19(1), 93-123.
E. fortis van Hoepen,
1920
= Aliwalia rex Galton, 1985
Middle Norian-Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Lower Elliot Formation, South Africa
Holotype- (TM 119) two incomplete dorsal neural arches, dorsal centrum,
four incomplete proximal to mid caudal vertebrae, distal and proximal pubic
fragments, proximal femur, tibia
Referred- (BP/1/6107) posterior dorsal vertebra (Yates, 2007)
....(BP/1/6110) distal femur (Yates, 2007)
....(BP/1/6111) proximal femur (Yates, 2007)
....(BP/1/6112) two rib fragments (Yates, 2007)
....(BP/1/6113) coracoid (Yates, 2007)
....(BP/1/6114) proximal scapular fragment (Yates, 2007)
....(BP/1/6115) distal scapular fragment (Yates, 2007)
....(BP/1/6120) proximal caudal vertebra (Yates, 2007)
?...(BP/1/6151) fragmentary mid caudal vertebrae, fragmentary distal caudal
vertebrae, two phalangeal fragments (Yates, 2007)
(NMW 1876-VII-B124; holotype of Aliwalia rex) (~9 m) distal femur (Huene,
1906)
....(NMW 1886-XV-39) proximal femur (Huene, 1906)
Diagnosis- (after Yates, 2007) small accessory lamina branching off of
the paradiapophyseal lamina and dividing the middle chonos in the middle dorsal
vertebrae (unknown in E. entaxonis).
(after McPhee et al., 2015) distal tibia in which the mediolaterally extensive
posterior surface extends as far laterally as the anterior ascending process.
Comments- Aliwalia rex was described as a herrerasaurian by Galton
(1985) based on a partial femur found in the 1860s and originally referred to
Euskelosaurus by Huene (1906), and referred snout fragment (NHMUK R3301)
also originally described as Euskelosaurus (Seeley, 1894). Usually referred
to Herrerasauridae or Dinosauria incertae sedis and described in more depth
by Galton and Van Heerden (1998), Aliwalia was recognized by Yates (2007)
to be a junior synonym of the sauropodomorph Eucnemesaurus fortis. The
snout fragment is not sauropodomorph and is here left as Archosauria incertae
sedis. Eucnemesaurus itself was first described as a theropod by Van
Hoepen (1920), as he placed all basal sauropodomorphs in that clade. More recently,
Eucnemesaurus has been recognized as a riojasaurid by Yates (2007), who
also described a new specimen. Blackbeard (2009) noted a new more complete specimen
in an abstract, but this was described as the new species Eucnemesaurus entaxonis
by McPhee et al. (2015).
References- Seeley, 1894. On Euskelosaurus brownii (Huxley). Annals
and Magazine of Natural History. 14, 317-340.
Huene, 1906. Ueber die Dinosaurier der aussereuropaischen Trias. Geologische
und Palaontologische Abhandlungen. 8, 99-156.
van Hoepen, 1920. Contributions to the knowledge of the reptiles of the Karroo
Formation. 6. Further dinosaurian material in the Transvaal Museum. Annals of
the Transvaal Museum. 7, 7-140.
van Heerden, 1979. The morphology and taxonomy of Euskelosaurus (Reptilia:
Saurischia; Late Triassic) from South Africa. Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum.
4, 21-84.
Galton, 1985. The poposaurid thecodontian Teratosaurus suevicus v. Meyer,
plus referred specimens mostly based on prosauropod dinosaurs, from the Middle
Stubensandstein (Upper Triassic) of Nordwurttemberg. Stuttgarter Beitrage zur
Naturkunde (B). 116, 1-29.
Galton and Van Heerden, 1998. Anatomy of the prosauropod dinosaur Blikanasaurus
cromptoni (Upper Triassic, South Africa), with notes on other tetrapods
from the lower Elliot Formation. Palaontologische Zeitschrift. 72, 163-177.
Yates, 2007. Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: The identity of Aliwalia rex
Galton. Historical Biology. 19(1), 93-123.
Blackbeard, 2009. A re-examination of the taxonomy of the rare Triassic dinosaur,
Eucnemesaurus based on an articulated skeleton from the Eastern Cape
of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29(3), 65A.
McPhee, Choiniere, Yates and Viglietti, 2015. A second species of Eucnemesaurus
Van Hoepen, 1920 (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha): New information on the diversity
and evolution of the sauropodomorph fauna of South Africa's lower Elliot Formation
(Latest Triassic). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35(5), e980504. DOI:
10.1080/02724634.2015.980504
E. entaxonis McPhee, Choiniere,
Yates and Viglietti, 2015
Middle Norian-Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Lower Elliot Formation, South Africa
Holotype- (BP/1/6234) thirteenth dorsal vertebra (~91 mm), fourteenth
dorsal vertebra, posterior dorsal ribs, partial first sacral vertebra, second
sacral vertebra, third sacral vertebra, first caudal vertebra (~75 mm), second
caudal vertebra, third caudal vertebra, fourth caudal vertebra, fifth caudal
vertebra, mid caudal vertebra, few proximal chevrons, ilia (one fragmentary),
partial pubes, ischia (one incomplete, one fragmentary; ~400 mm), femora (one
incomplete, one fragmentary; 535 mm), partial tibia, distal fibula, incomplete
astragalus, calcaneum, metatarsal I (92 mm), phalanges I-1, pedal unguals I
(one partial), metatarsal II (149 mm), phalanx II-1, phalanx II-2, partial pedal
ungual II, metatarsal III (~170 mm), phalanx III-1, metatarsal IV, metatarsal
V (74 mm)
Diagnosis- (after McPhee et al., 2015) small, circular pit excavates
sacral rib of first primordial sacral at midheight (also present in Melanorosaurus);
sharp ventral keel on proximal caudal centra; deep brevis fossa with relatively
thin lateral and medial walls (also deep in Riojasaurus).
Comments- This was initially announced in an abstract by Blackbeard (2009)
as a new specimen of Eucnemesaurus fortis, but was fully described by
McPhee et al. (2015) as the new species E. entaxonis.
References- Blackbeard, 2009. A re-examination of the taxonomy of the
rare Triassic dinosaur, Eucnemesaurus based on an articulated skeleton
from the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29(3),
65A.
McPhee, Choiniere, Yates and Viglietti, 2015. A second species of Eucnemesaurus
Van Hoepen, 1920 (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha): New information on the diversity
and evolution of the sauropodomorph fauna of South Africa's lower Elliot Formation
(Latest Triassic). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35(5), e980504. DOI:
10.1080/02724634.2015.980504
Sarahsaurus
Kholumolumo
Gryponychidae Huene, 1932
Comments- This family was erected by Huene (1932) to contain Gryponyx
and Aetonyx in Carnosauria.
Reference- Huene, 1932. Die fossile Reptil-Ordnung Saurischia, ihre entwicklung
und geschichte. Monographien zur Geologia und Palaeontologie. 1, 1-362.
Gryponyx Broom, 1911
G. africanus Broom, 1911
Hettangian-Sinemurian, Early Jurassic
Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa
Holotype- (SAM 3357-59) (~5 m) two posterior dorsal vertebrae (75 mm), incomplete
radius (210 mm), incomplete ulna (~220 mm), distal carpal I, distal carpal II,
distal carpal III, distal carpal IV, metacarpal I (64 mm), phalanx I-1 (63 mm),
manual ungual I (110 mm), metacarpal II (80 mm), phalanx II-1 (42 mm), phalanx
II-2 (35 mm), manual ungual II (55 mm), metacarpal III (75 mm), phalanx III-1
(32 mm), phalanx III-2 (25 mm), phalanx III-3 (24 mm), manual ungual III (35
mm), metacarpal IV (50 mm), phalanx IV-1 (25 mm), phalanx IV-2 (19 mm), partial
phalanx IV-3, metacarpal V (38 mm), phalanx V-1 (26 mm), phalanx V-2, partial
ilium, pubes (440 mm), ischium (405 mm), femur (540 mm), tibia (450 mm), fibula
(413 mm), astragalus, metatarsal I (112 mm), phalanx I-1 (71 mm), pedal ungual
I (110 mm), metatarsal II (187 mm), phalanx II-1 (72 mm), phalanx II-2 (53 mm),
pedal ungual II (99 mm), metatarsal III (203 mm), phalanx III-1 (71 mm), phalanx
III-2 (52 mm), phalanx III-3 (45 mm), pedal ungual III (77 mm), metatarsal IV
(166 mm), phalanx IV-1 (57 mm), phalanx IV-2 (44 mm), phalanx IV-3 (38 mm),
phalanx IV-4 (34 mm), pedal ungual IV (68 mm), metatarsal V (113 mm)
Comments- Originally described as a theropod by Broom (1911), Gryponyx
africanus was usually viewed as a basal carnosaur until Galton and Cluver
(1976) and Cooper (1981) synonymized it with Massospondylus. It has been
generally ignored since, until Vasconcelos and Yates (2004) revalidated it based
on differences including- total length of metacarpal I exceeds maximum proximal
width; long, narrow pubic apron with straight lateral margins. They entered
it into Yates sauropodomorph matrix and found it to be the most basal massospondylid.
While Yates' codings for Gryponyx were published in Yates et al. (2010),
the taxon has yet to be redescribed.
References- Broom, 1911. On the dinosaurs of the Stormberg, South Africa.
Annals of the South African Museum. 7(4), 291-308.
Van Hoepen, 1920. Contributions to the knowledge of the reptiles of the Karroo
Formation. 6. Further dinosaurian material in the Transvaal Museum. Ann Transvaal
Mus. 7, 7-140.
Haughton, 1924. The fauna and stratigraphy of the Stormberg Series. Annals of
the South African Museum. 12, 323-497.
Huene, 1932. Die fossile Reptil-Ordnung Saurischia, ihre entwicklung und geschichte.
Monographien zur Geologia und Palaeontologie. 1, 1-362.
Galton and Cluver, 1976. Anchisaurus capensis (Broom) and a revision
of the Anchisauridae (Reptilia, Saurischia). Annals of the South African Museum.
69(6), 121-159.
Cooper, 1981. The prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus carinatus Owen
from Zimbabwe: Its biology, mode of life and phylogenetic significance. Occasional
Papers of the National Museums and Monuments of Rhodesia (series B, Natural
Sciences). 6, 689-840.
Vasconcelos and Yates, 2004. Sauropodomorph biodiversity of the upper Elliot
Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Southern Africa. Geoscience Africa 2004, Abstract
volume, 670.
Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chinsamy and Blackbeard, 2010. A new transitional sauropodomorph
dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and the evolution of sauropod
feeding and quadrupedalism. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 277(1682), 787-794.
"Gyposaurus" sinensis
Massospondylidae Huene, 1914
Definition- (Massospondylus carinatus <- Plateosaurus engelhardti,
Saltasaurus loricatus) (Sereno, online)
Other definitions- (Massospondylus carinatus <- Plateosaurus
engelhardti) (modified from Sereno, 1998)
?= Mussauridae Bonaparte and Vince, 1979
References- Huene, 1914. Das nat�rliche System der Saurischia [The
systematics of the Saurischia]. Centralblatt f�r Mineralogie, Geologie
und Pal�ontologie. 1914, 154-158.
Bonaparte and Vince, 1979. El hallazgo del primer nido de dinosaurios triasicos,
(Saurischia, Prosauropoda), Triasico Superior de Patagonia, Argentina [The discovery
of the first nest of Triassic dinosaurs (Saurischia, Prosauropoda,) from the
Upper Triassic of Patagonia, Argentina]. Ameghiniana. 16(1-2), 173-182.
Sereno, 1998. A rationale for phylogenetic definitions, with application to
the higher-level taxonomy of Dinosauria. Neues Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und
Pal�ontologie Abhandlungen. 210, 41-83.
Sereno, online. Stem Archosauria - TaxonSearch. URL http://www.taxonsearch.org/dev/file_home.php
[version 1.0, 2005 November 7]
Pradhania
Massospondylus Owen, 1854
= Ignavusaurus Knoll, 2010
M. carinatus Owen, 1854
= I. rachelis Knoll, 2010
Hettangian-Sinemurian, Early Jurassic
Upper Elliot Formation, Lesotho
Referred- (BM HR 20; holotype of Ignavusaurus rachelis) (~1.5 m.
~23 kg, <1 year old juvenile) postorbital, quadrate, skull fragments, about
thirty complete to fragmentary teeth, partial second dorsal centrum, third to
fourteenth dorsal vertebrae (d3 29.5, d14 22.7 mm), gastralia, first to third
sacral vertebrae (26.6, 20.1, 24.3 mm), first to fifteenth caudal vertebrae
(c1 19.7, c14 20.1 mm), distal scapula, distal humerus, radius (60.3 mm), ulna
(66.2 mm), metacarpal III (22.4 mm), phalanx III-1 (9.6 mm), phalanx III-2 (8.1
mm), phalanx III-3 (7.7 mm), manual ungual III (10.4 mm), metacarpal IV (17.7
mm), phalanx IV-1 (6.8 mm), phalanx IV-2 (4.1 mm), phalanx IV-3 (3.6 mm), metacarpal
V (10.8 mm), phalanx V-1 (6.9 mm), incomplete ilia (95.3 mm), pubes (one incomplete,
one fragmentary (121.9 mm), ischia (one incomplete; 105.7 mm), incomplete femora
(152.7 mm), incomplete tibia, astragalus, distal tarsal III, distal tarsal IV,
proximal metatarsal II, phalanx II-2 (12.7 mm), pedal ungual II, proximal metatarsal
III, phalanx III-1 fragment, phalanx III-2 (14.6 mm), phalanx III-3 (12 mm),
pedal ungual III, proximal metatarsal IV, proximal phalanx IV-1, metatarsal
V (28.5 mm), phalanx V-1 (6.4 mm) (Knoll, 2002; described by Knoll, 2010)
Diagnosis- (after Knoll, 2010) Combination of- transverse width of ventral
postorbital process greater than anteroposterior width at midlength; height
of orbital rim of postorbital raised so that it projects laterally to posterior
process; first dentary tooth adjacent to symphysis; teeth linearly placed within
jaws; dentary tooth crowns slightly procumbent; mesial and distal serrations
restricted to apical half of tooth crown; fourteen vertebrae between cervicodorsal
transition and primordial sacral vertebrae; dorsal transverse processes dorsally
directed; posterior margin of mid dorsal neural spines concave in lateral view
with projecting posterodorsal corner; first caudal centrum shorter than high;
metacarpal V about as wide as long; metacarpal V with strongly convex proximal
articulation; posterior margin of postacetabular process bluntly pointed; lateral
margin of pubic apron concave in dorsal view; no longitudinal dorsolateral sulcus
on proximal ischium; roughly hemispherical femoral head with no sharp medial
distal corner; subrectangular astragalus in proximal view; pyramidal process
on anterolateral corner of astragalus; transverse width of proximal end of metatarsal
V 50% length of element.
Comments- [This entry is partial, only including information on Ignavusaurus
at the moment]
The holotype was first mentioned in Knoll's (2002) thesis, which illustrated
the ilium. Knoll (2010) recovered it in a version of Yates' sauropodomorph matrix
as a basal form more derived than Thecodontosaurus and Pantydraco,
but less than Efraasia and plateosaurians. However, Yates et al. (2011)
noted that of the proposed basal characters, elongate proximal chevrons and
an unexpanded distal tibia are seen in the contemporaneous Massospondylus,
and that the absent entocondylar facet and small size are juvenile characters.
They also stated some characters of Ignavusaurus ("weakly developed
basal constrictions of the teeth, coarse apically restricted denticulations
of the teeth, and a relatively narrow pubic apron with a concave lateral margin")
are shared with Massospondylus, so proposed Ignavusaurus' holotype
is merely a juvenile specimen of that common genus. This is supported by Apaldetti
et al.'s (2011) version of Yates' matrix which recovered Ignavusaurus
as a massopod sister to Sarahsaurus. It can be placed in Massospondylidae
with six extra steps.
References- Owen, 1854. Descriptive catalogue of the fossil organic remains
of Reptilia and Pisces contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons
of England. London. 184 pp.
Knoll, 2002. Les Fabrosauridae Galton, 1972 (Dinosauria: Ornithischia): R�partition
g�ographique et stratigraphique; syst�matique et phylog�nie.
PhD thesis. Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle. 242 pp.
Knoll, 2010. A primitive sauropodomorph from the upper Elliot Formation of Lesotho.
Geological Magazine. 147(6), 814-829.
Apaldetti, Martinez, Alcober and Pol, 2011. A new basal sauropodomorph (Dinosauria:
Saurischia) from Quebrada del Barro Formation (Marayes-El Carrizal Basin), northwestern
Argentina. PLoS ONE. 6(11), e26964.
Yates, Bonnan and Neveling, 2011. A new basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the
Early Jurassic of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 31(3), 610-625.
Adeopapposaurus
Leyesaurus Apaldetti, Martinez,
Alcober and Pol, 2011
L. marayensis Apaldetti, Martinez, Alcober and Pol, 2011
Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Upper Quebrada del Barro Formation, San Juan, Argentina
Holotype- (PVSJ 706) (~2.5 m) incomplete skull (147.4 mm), mandibles (one
partial), hyoids, partial proatlas, odontoid (13.3 mm), atlantal intercentrum
(11.7 mm), atlantal neural arches (one partial), incomplete axis (~65.4 mm),
third cervical vertebra (~79 mm), fourth cervical vertebra (85.1 mm), incomplete
fifth cervical vertebra (~97 mm), sixth cervical vertebra (97.3 mm), incomplete
seventh cervical vertebra, cervical ribs, partial proximal caudal vertebra,
incomplete mid caudal vertebra (46.4 mm), two mid chevrons, proximal scapular
fragment, partial coracoid, proximal humeral fragment, partial pubis, proximal
ischia, distal tarsal III, distal tarsal IV, phalanx I-1 (48.5 mm), phalanx
II-2 (36.2 mm), incomplete metatarsal III, metatarsal IV (119 mm), phalanx IV-2,
metatarsal V (65.2 mm)
Diagnosis- (after Apaldetti et al., 2011) sharply acute angle (50 degrees)
formed by maxillary ascending process and alveolar margin; straight maxillary
ascending process with longitudinal ridge on lateral surface; noticeably bulging
labial side of maxillary teeth; greatly elongated cervical vertebra (length/height
ratio of sixth cervical centrum >5); cervical neural arches with sinuous
dorsal neural spine margin; short cervical epipophyses (extend two-thirds length
of postzygapophyses); proximal articular surface of metatarsal III shelf-like
and medially deflected.
Comments- The holotype was discovered in 2001. Apaldetti et al. (2011)
added Leyesaurus to Yates' sauropodomorph analysis and found it to be
a massospondylid sister to Adeopapposaurus.
Reference- Apaldetti, Martinez, Alcober and Pol, 2011. A new basal sauropodomorph
(Dinosauria: Saurischia) from Quebrada del Barro Formation (Marayes-El Carrizal
Basin), northwestern Argentina. PLoS ONE. 6(11), e26964.
Seitaad
Coloradisaurus
Lufengosaurus
L. huangi
L? "changduensis"
Zhao, 1985
Etymology- Changdu is an alternative spelling of Qamdo, the county it
was discovered in.
Early Jurassic
Middle Daye Group, Qamdo County, Daye, Tibet, China
Comments- This species is apparently illustrated by Yang (1986). Weishampel
et al. (2004) include it in their faunal list along with an undescribed prosauropod
which may be the same thing. As it has not been described in the published literature,
Lufengosaurus? "changduensis" is a nomen nudum.
Relationships- Listed as a plateosaurid by Chure and McIntosh (1989)
and Fang et al. (2006), and as an undescribed anchisaurid by Weishampel (1990).
Lufengosaurus has more recently been placed as a basal massopod, but
being undescribed, there is no published evidence "changduensis" belongs
in Lufengosaurus or is distinct from L. huenei.
References- Zhao, 1985. The Jurassic Reptilia. In Wang, Cheng and Wang
(eds.). The Jurassic System of China. Stratigraphy of China. 11, 286-289, 347,
plates 10 and 11.
Yang, 1986. The Jurassic System. in Yang, Cheng and Wang (eds.). The Geology
of China. Clarendon Press. 140-152.
Chure and McIntosh, 1989. A Bibliography of the Dinosauria (Exclusive of the
Aves) 1677-1986. Museum of Western Colorado Paleontology Series #1. 226 pp.
Weishampel, 1990. Dinosaurian distribution. in Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska
(eds.). The Dinosauria. University of California Press. 63-139.
Weishampel, Barrett, Coria, Le Loeuff, Xu, Zhao, Sahni, Gomani and Noto, 2004.
Dinosaur Distribution. in Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska (eds.). The Dinosauria:
Second Edition. University of California Press. 517-606.
Fang, Zhang, Lu, Han, Zhao and Li, 2006. Collision between the Indian Plate
and the paleo-Asian late and the appearance of Asian dinosaurs. Geological Bulletin
of China. 25(7), 862-873.
Glacialisaurus
Jingshanosaurus Zhang and Yang, 1995
= Chuxiongosaurus Lu,
Kobayashi, Li and Zhong, 2010
J. xinwaensis Zhang and Yang, 1995
= Chuxiongosaurus lufengensis Lu, Kobayashi, Li and Zhong, 2010
Hettangian, Early Jurassic
Shawan Member (Dull Purplish Beds) of Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China
Holotype- (LFGT-ZLJ0113)
Referred (CXM-LT9401; holotype of Chuxiongosaurus lufengensis) (~2 m subadult) skull (340 mm), sclerotic ossicles, mandibles
(335 mm)
References- Zhang and Yang, 1995. A new complete osteology of Prosauropoda in Lufeng basin Yunnan, China: Jingshanosaurus. Yunnan Publishing House of Science and Technology.
Lu, Kobayashi, Li and Zhong, 2010. A new basal sauropod dinosaur
from the Lufeng Basin, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Acta Geologica Sinica.
84(6), 1336-1342. 100 pp.
Zhang, Wang, Yang and You, 2020. Redescription of the cranium of Jingshanosaurus xinwaensis
(Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation
of Yunnan Province, China. The Anatomical Record. 303, 759-771.
Yunnanosauridae Young, 1942
Reference- Young, 1942. Yunnanosaurus huangi Young (gen. et sp.
nov.), a new Prosauropoda from the Red Beds at Lufeng, Yunnan. Bulletin of the
Geological Society of China. 22(1-2), 63-104.
Yunnanosaurus
Anchisauria Haeckel, 1895
Definition- (Anchisaurus polyzelus + Melanorosaurus readi)
(modified from Galton and Upchurch, 2004)
References- Haeckel, 1895. Systematische Phylogenie der Wirbelthiere: (Vertebrata).
660 pp.
Galton and Upchurch, 2004. Prosauropoda. In Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska
(eds.). The Dinosauria (second edition). University of California Press, Berkeley.
232-258.
Anchisauridae Marsh, 1885
= Amphisauridae Marsh, 1882
= Ammosauridae Huene, 1914
= Anchisaurinae Marsh, 1885 vide Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991
Diagnosis- (Anchisaurus polyzelus <- Melanorosaurus readi)
(modified from Galton and Upchurch, 2004)
References- Marsh, 1882. Classification of the Dinosauria. American Journal
of Science. 23, 81-86.
Marsh, 1885. Names of extinct reptiles. American Journal of Science. 29, 169.
Huene, 1914. Das nat�rliche System der Saurischia [The systematics of the
Saurischia]. Centralblatt f�r Mineralogie, Geologie und Pal�ontologie.
1914, 154-158.
Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991. Late Triassic zoogeography and reconstruction
of the terrestrial tetrapod fauna of North Africa. Paleontological Journal.
1, 1-12.
Anchisaurus
Sauropodiformes Sereno, 2007
Definition- (Mussaurus patagonicus + Saltasaurus loricatus)
(Sereno, 2007)
References- Sereno, 2007. Basal Sauropodomorpha: Historical and recent
phylogenetic hypotheses, with comments on Ammosaurus major (Marsh, 1889).
Special Papers in Palaeontology. 77, 261-289.
Mussaurus
Sauropoda sensu Sereno, 2007
Definition- (Saltasaurus loricatus <- Jingshanosaurus xinwaensis,
Mussaurus patagonicus)
Reference- Sereno, 2007. Basal Sauropodomorpha: Historical and recent phylogenetic
hypotheses, with comments on Ammosaurus major (Marsh, 1889). Special
Papers in Palaeontology. 77, 261-289.
Aardonyx Yates, Bonnan, Neveling,
Chinsamy and Blackbeard, 2010
= "Aardonyx" Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chinsamy and Blackbeard, 2009
online
A. celestae Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chinsamy and Blackbeard,
2010
= "Aardonyx celestae" Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chinsamy and Blackbeard,
2009 online
Hettangian-Sinemurian, Early Jurassic
Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa
Holotype- (BP/1/6254) (two 7 year old subadult individuals, one ~85% the
size of the other) partial maxilla (~193 mm)
Paratypes- ..(BP/1/5379a-f; larger individual) basioccipital, radius
(283 mm), ulna (305 mm), metacarpal I (65 m), distal tibia, second sacral rib
..(BP/1/6238) posterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6239) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6240) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6241) first sacral centrum
..(BP/1/6242) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6243) dorsal rib fragments
..(BP/1/6244; larger individual?) chevron (276 mm)
..(BP/1/6245) anterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6248) dorsal ribs
..(BP/1/6249) anterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6250) pedal ungual III (73 mm)
..(BP/1/6252) dorsal ribs
..(BP/1/6253; larger individual) metatarsal II (168 mm)
..(BP/1/6254) maxilla
..(BP/1/6255) prootic
..(BP/1/6259) anterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6260) dorsal ribs
..(BP/1/6261) dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6262) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6263; larger individual?) ~sixth dorsal rib (853 mm)
..(BP/1/6264) anterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6265) dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6266) dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6267) dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6270) fourteenth dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6273) posterior dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6274) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6275) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6276) dorsal ribs
..(BP/1/6277) dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6278) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6287) dorsal neural arch
..(BP/1/6288-6289) dorsal rib shaft
..(BP/1/6290) ischium
..(BP/1/6291) chevron
..(BP/1/6292) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6293) cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6294) caudal vertebra
..(BP/1/6295; larger individual?) mid-distal caudal vertebra (79 mm), caudal
vertebra(e)
..(BP/1/6296) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6297) chevron
..(BP/1/6298) rib fragment
..(BP/1/6299) rib fragment
..(BP/1/6300) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6301) rib fragment
..(BP/1/6302) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6303) caudal vertebra
..(BP/1/6304) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6305) premaxillary tooth
..(BP/1/6306) dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6307) caudal vertebra
..(BP/1/6308; smaller individual) metacarpal I (58 mm)
..(BP/1/6309) third sacral vertebra
..(BP/1/6310) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6311) frontal
..(BP/1/6312) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6313) first sacral rib
..(BP/1/6314) phalanx
..(BP/1/6315) distal tarsal IV
..(BP/1/6316) fibula
..(BP/1/6317) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6319) pedal phalanx
..(BP/1/6320) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6321; smaller individual) radius (234 mm)
..(BP/1/6323; smaller individual?) ~fourth dorsal neural arch
..(BP/1/6327) dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6325) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6326) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6327) surangular
..(BP/1/6328) chevron
..(BP/1/6329) tooth
..(BP/1/6330) left jugal
..(BP/1/6332) cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6333) dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6334) dentary
..(BP/1/6335) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6336) pedal phalanx
..(BP/1/6339) chevron
..(BP/1/6341) anterior cervical rib
..(BP/1/6342) palatine
..(BP/1/6505) posterior maxilla
..(BP/1/6506) gastralium
..(BP/1/6507) postorbital
..(BP/1/6509; larger individual) metatarsal III (198 mm)
..(BP/1/6510; smaller individual) femur (681 mm)
..(BP/1/6511) surangular
..(BP/1/6512; larger individual) pedal phalanx III-1 (63 m)
..(BP/1/6513; larger individual?) ?third cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6540) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1 6541; larger individual?) proximal-mid caudal vertebra (74 mm)
..(BP/1/6542; smaller individual) metatarsal III (177 mm)
..(BP/1/6563) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6564) chevron
..(BP/1/6565) posterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6566; larger individual?) ~thirteenth dorsal vertebra (101 mm)
..(BP/1/6584) premaxilla
..(BP/1/6585; smaller individual) pubis (535 mm)
..(BP/1/6586) caudal neural spine
..(BP/1/6588) distal tarsal III
..(BP/1/6589) pedal ungual
..(BP/1/6590) ischium
..(BP/1/6591; larger individual?) ~second dorsal neural arch
..(BP/1/6592) pedal ungual I (116 mm)
..(BP/1/6593) pedal ungual IV (64 mm)
..(BP/1/6594) anterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6595) pedal phalanx
..(BP/1/6596) squamosal
..(BP/1/6597) clavicle
..(BP/1/6600) prootic
..(BP/1/6601) metatarsal IV
..(BP/1/6602; smaller individual) metatarsal I (97 mm)
..(BP/1/6604) cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6605; larger individual?) atlantal neurapophysis
..(BP/1/6607; smaller individual) metatarsal II (70 mm)
..(BP/1/6608) manual ungual ?IV
..(BP/1/6611) manual phalanx I-1
..(BP/1/6613; larger individual?) ~second dorsal centrum (90 mm)
..(BP/1/6615; larger individual?) ?seventh cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6617) prefrontal (79 mm)
..(BP/1/6618) first sacral rib
..(BP/1/6619) metatarsal I
..(BP/1/6620; larger individual?) proximal-mid caudal vertebra (82 mm)
..(BP/1/6622) posterior dorsal prezygapophysis
..(BP/1/6623; larger individual) metatarsal IV (184 mm)
..(BP/1/6624) anterior cervical rib
..(BP/1/6625; larger individual?) distal caudal vertebra (67 mm)
..(BP/1/6626; smaller individual) metatarsal IV (163 mm)
..(BP/1/6627) distal chevron
..(BP/1/6631) mid-posterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6632) incomplete frontal
..(BP/1/6633) posterior cervical rib
..(BP/1/6634; larger individual?) proximal chevron (265 mm)
..(BP/1/6636) anterior-mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6637) gastralium
..(BP/1/6641; larger individual?) ~third caudal centrum (88 mm)
..(BP/1/6642; larger individual?) ~third dorsal neural arch
..(BP/1/6644; larger individual?) ~third cervical centrum (116 mm)
..(BP/1/6645) incomplete basisphenoid
..(BP/1/6647) manual phalanx I-1
..(BP/1/6648) mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6650) pedal phalanx III-1
..(BP/1/6651) first dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6652) lateral gastralium
..(BP/1/6653) posterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6654) premaxillary tooth
..(BP/1/6655) mid cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6657) lateral gastralium
..(BP/1/6658) anterior-mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6659) chevron
..(BP/1/6660) distal chevron
..(BP/1/6661) posterior dorsal neural arch fragment
..(BP/1/6662; larger individual?) ?fifth cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6663) posterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6664) posterior cervical rib
..(BP/1/6665) mid cervical rib
..(BP/1/6666; larger individual?) fourteenth dorsal neural arch
..(BP/1/6667) sacral centrum
..(BP/1/6668) proximal scapula
..(BP/1/6669; larger individual?) mid caudal vertebra (84 mm)
..(BP/1/6670) manual phalanx II-1
..(BP/1/6681; larger individual?) ~eighth cervical neural arch
..(BP/1/6722) anterior-mid dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6723) posterior dorsal rib
..(BP/1/6753) proximal caudal vertebra
..(BP/1/6754) proximal-mid caudal vertebra
..(BP/1/6755; larger individual?) ~second caudal vertebra (78 mm)
..(BP/1/6756) distal chevron
..(BP/1/6758) anterior dorsal neural arch
..(BP/1/6759) squamosal
..(BP/1/6760) anterior dorsal centrum
..(BP/1/6761) proximal chevron
..(BP/1/6762) distal metacarpal II
..(BP/1/6763) parietal)
..(BP/1/6764) prearticular
..(BP/1/6765) lateral gastralium
..(BP/1/6766) premaxilla
..(BP/1/6767) medial gastralium
..(BP/1/6773) pedal phalanx IV-1
..(BP/1/6893; larger individual) metatarsal I (116 mm)
Diagnosis- (after Yates et al., 2010) five premaxillary teeth (also in
Plateosaurus); band of dense, fine pits and small foramina along lower
half of lateral maxillary surface; reduced lateral maxillary neurovascular foramina
anterior to large posteriorly facing foramen at posterior end of maxilla (middle
foramina are <6% of maxillary depth posterior to antorbital fossa); elongate
anterior ramus of maxilla combined with steep dorsal premaxillary process to
produce an enlarged external naris (area at least subequal to orbit); well-developed
longitudinal sulcus on medial side of posterior maxillary ramus; reduced cervical
diapophyses that remain as low tubercles, with concomitant absence of diapophyseal
laminae, along full length of cervical series; large, rugose biceps scar (maximum
diameter 13% length of radius) on anteromedial surface of radial shaft; broad
and flat proximal end of metatarsal IV (transverse width 2.9 times greater than
extensor-flexor depth); distal end of metatarsal IV with strongly laterally
flared posteroolateral corner.
Comments- The article describing this taxon was available online November
2009, but not physically published until March 2010, so the name was a nomen
nudum until then. The material was discovered between 2004 and 2007 and first
reported as two separate taxa (Sauropod A and Sauropod B) in an abstract (Yates
et al., 2007). Yates et al. (2010) entered it in Yates' sauropodomorph matrix
and recovered Aardonyx as an anchisaur sister to Melanorosaurus+Sauropoda.
Its position has remained the same in subsequent versions, though Sefapanosaurus
and Leonerasaurus have similar placement. The type of Sefapanosaurus
was provisionally referred to Aardonyx by McPhee et al. (2014) before
being described as a new genus.
References- Yates, Bonnan and Neveling, 2007. A new diverse dinosaur
assemblage from the Early Jurassic of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
27(3), 169A.
Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chinsamy and Blackbeard, 2010. A new transitional sauropodomorph
dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and the evolution of sauropod
feeding and quadrupedalism. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 277(1682), 787-794.
McPhee, Yates, Choiniere and Abdala, 2014. The complete anatomy and phylogenetic
relationships of Antetonitrus ingenipes (Sauropodiformes, Dinosauria):
Implications for the origins of Sauropoda. Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society. 171, 151-205.
undescribed sauropodiform (Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chinsamy and Blackbeard,
2010)
Hettangian-Sinemurian, Early Jurassic
Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa
Holotype- (BP/1/coll.) femur
Comments- Yates et al. (2010) noted this differs from Aardonyx
in- strongly reduced flexure of shaft, oval cross section of shaft, medially
shifted fourth trochanter, and laterally shifted anterior trochanter that is
visible in posterior view.
Reference- Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chinsamy and Blackbeard, 2010. A
new transitional sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa
and the evolution of sauropod feeding and quadrupedalism. Proceedings of the
Royal Society B. 277(1682), 787-794.
Blikanasauridae Galton and Van Heerden, 1985
= Blikanasaurini Galton and Van Heerden vide Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991
References- Galton and Van Heerden, 1985. Partial hindlimb of Blikanasaurus
cromptoni n. gen. and n. sp., representing a new family of prosauropod dinosaurs
from the Upper Triassic of South Africa. G�obios. 18(4), 509-516.
Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991. Late Triassic zoogeography and reconstruction
of the terrestrial tetrapod fauna of North Africa. Paleontological Journal.
1, 1-12.
Blikanasaurus
Camelotia
Sefapanosaurus Otero,
Krupandan, Pol, Chinsamy and Choiniere, 2015
S. zastronensis Otero, Krupandan, Pol, Chinsamy and Choiniere,
2015
Norian-Sinemurian, Late Triassic-Early Jurassic
Elliot Formation, South Africa
Holotype- (BP/1/386) astragalus (132 mm trans), calcaneum, distal tarsal
IV, proximal metacarpal III, proximal metatarsal IV, incomplete metatarsal V
Paratypes- (at least four individuals) ..(BP/1/7409) incomplete fifth
or sixth cervical vertebra (140 mm)
..(BP/1/7410) sixth or seventh cervical centrum (134 mm)
..(BP/1/7411) cervical centrum (112 mm)
..(BP/1/7412) cervical centrum (105 mm)
..(BP/1/7413) partial ?cervical centrum (113 mm)
..(BP/1/7414) mid dorsal vertebra (79 mm)
..(BP/1/7415) incomplete ~fifth dorsal vertebra (97 mm)
..(BP/1/7416) incomplete tenth or eleventh dorsal vertebra (74 mm)
..(BP/1/7417) partial posterior dorsal vertebra (95 mm)
..(BP/1/7418) dorsal transverse process
..(BP/1/7419) posterior dorsal centrum (81 mm)
..(BP/1/7420) first sacral centrum (115 mm)
..(BP/1/7421) posterior dorsal centrum (82 mm)
..(BP/1/7422) incomplete ?third sacral centrum (57 mm)
..(BP/1/7423) partial posterior dorsal vertebra
..(BP/1/7424) partial first caudal vertebra (83 mm)
..(BP/1/7425) incomplete proximal caudal vertebra (87 mm)
..(BP/1/7426) mid caudal vertebra
..(BP/1/7427) proximal caudal vertebra (53 mm)
..(BP/1/7428) mid caudal vertebra
..(BP/1/7429) partial distal caudal vertebra (79 mm)
..(BP/1/7430) incomplete proximal chevron
..(BP/1/7431) dorsal neural arch
..(BP/1/7432) incomplete coracoid (210 mm deep)
..(BP/1/7433) incomplete scapula
..(BP/1/7434) proximal humerus
..(BP/1/7435) radius (205 mm)
..(BP/1/7436) radius (207 mm)
..(BP/1/7437) incomplete ulna (220 mm)
..(BP/1/7438) distal carpal I, distal carpal II, metacarpal I (66 mm), phalanx
I-1 (64 mm), metacarpal II (95 mm), metacarpal V (50 mm), phalanx V-1 (27 mm),
phalanx V-2 (17 mm)
..(BP/1/7439) proximal ?pubis
..(BP/1/7440) proximal femur
..(BP/1/7441) proximal femur
..(BP/1/7442) proximal femur
..(BP/1/7443) proximal femur
..(BP/1/7444) distal femur
..(BP/1/7445) proximal tibia
..(BP/1/7446) distal fibula
..(BP/1/7447) fibula (450 mm)
..(BP/1/7448) proximal metatarsal II
..(BP/1/7449) distal metatarsal III
..(BP/1/7450) proximal ischium
Diagnosis- (after Otero et al., 2015) slit-shaped posterior dorsal neural
canal (also in Antetonitrus and Lessemsaurus); length of proximal
caudal neural spine base greater than half neural arch length (also in non-plateosaurian
sauropodomorphs and Sellosaurus); cross-section of distal caudal centra
square (also in Adeopapposaurus, Anchisaurus, Aardonyx,
Melanorosaurus and Camelotia); long ridge extending from anterodorsal
margin of coracoid to coracoid foramen; anteromedial process of ulna twice as
long as anterolateral process and distally tapered; biceps tubercle on radius
(also in Mussaurus, Aardonyx, Melanorosaurus and Antetonitrus);
posterodistal tubercle on radius (also in Mussaurus, Aardonyx,
Melanorosaurus and Antetonitrus); distal carpal I with proximally
pointing tip on palmar surface, giving a triangular shape in palmar view; strongly
concave medial margin of metacarpal I (also in Lufengosaurus, Aardonyx,
Lessemsaurus and Antetonitrus); ventral margin of manual phalanx
I-1 well developed with a proximally pointing tip (also in Mussaurus);
metacarpal V longer than wide with flat proximal surface (also in Seitaad,
Sellosaurus, Ruehleia, non-plateosaurians and sauropods); metacarpal
I short and wide (proximal width more than length of bone) (also in Lufengosaurus,
Jingshanosaurus, Seitaad, Aardonyx, Anteonitrus
and Lessemsaurus); anteromedial projection on distal fibula; tall ascending
process of the astragalus, 35% of mediolateral astragalar width; T-shaped, triradiate
cross-section of astragalar ascending process; astragalar ascending process
framed medially and posteriorly by well-developed, straight, thick ridges, which
have subcircular cross-sections.
Comments- This material was recovered from 1936 to 1946 and initially
identified as Euskelosaurus, than provisionally as Aardonyx (McPhee
et al., 2014).
Using a version of Yates' sauropodomorph matrix, Otero et al. (2015) recovered
Sefapanosaurus as a sauropodiform in a polytomy with Aardonyx,
Leonerasaurus and Melanorosaurus+Sauropoda. Placing it outside
Sauropodiformes took 2 more steps, outside Anchisauria 3 more steps, and at
least as close to sauropods as Melanorosaurus 5 more steps.
References- McPhee, Yates, Choiniere and Abdala, 2014. The complete anatomy
and phylogenetic relationships of Antetonitrus ingenipes (Sauropodiformes,
Dinosauria): Implications for the origins of Sauropoda. Zoological Journal of
the Linnean Society. 171, 151-205.
Otero, Krupandan, Pol, Chinsamy and Choiniere, 2015. A new basal sauropodiform
from South Africa and the phylogenetic relationships of basal sauropodomorphs.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 174, 589-634.
Meroktenos Fabregues and
Allain, 2016
M. thabanensis (Gauffre, 1993) Fabregues and Allain, 2016
= Melanorosaurus thabanensis Gauffre, 1993
Norian-Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Lower Elliot Formation, Lesotho
Holotype- (MNHN.F.LES16c) femur (480 mm)
Referred- ....(MNHN.F.LES16a) ?dorsal neural arch, incomplete ilium (Fabregues
and Allain, 2016)
....(MNHN.F.LES16b) pubis (~400 mm) (Fabregues and Allain, 2016)
....(MNHN.F.LES16d) metatarsal II (116 mm) (Fabregues and Allain, 2016)
?...(MNHN.F.LES351) cervical vertebra (87 mm), incomplete radius, ulna (203
mm) (Costedoat, 1962)
Diagnosis- (after Gauffre, 1993) femoral shaft significantly wider lateromedially
than anteroposteriorly deep (eccentricity: 1.58) (modified after Fabregies and
Allain, 2016); oblique fourth trochanter.
(after Fabregues and Allain, 2016) depth of ilial blade (from dorsalmost point
of supracetabular crest to dorsal margin of ilium) 60% total height of ilium;
subtriangular postacetabular process; stocky femur (length / circunference under
fourth trochanter 2.09); straight femoral shaft in anterior and lateral views.
Comments- The material was discovered in 1959 and initially described
as ?Gryponyx in Costedoat's (1962) thesis. After being noted as an unnamed
melanorosaurid (Ellenberger, 1970), only the femur was described as a new species
of Melanorosaurus by Gauffre (1993). Fabregues and Allain (2016) later
reassigned this species to their new genus Meroktenos. Note while Fabregues
and Allain listed MNHN.F.LES16a, b and d as part of the holotype, but since
only MNHN.F.LES16c was listed as the holotype by Gauffre, no other materials
can be added later, even if they belong to the holotype individual.
Fabregues and Allain entered Meroktenos in Yates' sauropodomorph matrix
and found it to emerge as a non-sauropod anchisaurian, though Mussaurus
and Sefapanosaurus were not included.
References- Costedoat, 1962. �tude de quelques reptiles fossiles.
MS Thesis, Universit� de Paris.
Ellenberger, 1970. Les niveaux pal�ontologiques de premi�re apparition
des mammif�res primordiaux en Afrique du Sud et leur ichnologie: Establissement
de ones stratigraphiques d�taill�es dans le Stormberg du Lesotho
(Afrique du Sud) (Trias Sup�rieur � Jurassique). In Haughton (ed.).
I.U.G.S., 2nd symposium on gondwana stratigraphy and palaeontology. 343-370.
Gauffre, 1993. The most recent Melanorosauridae (Saurischia, Prosauropoda),
Lower Jurassic of Lesotho, with remarks on the prosauropod phylogeny. Neues
Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und Pal�ontologie. 11, 64-654.
Fabregues and Allain, 2016. New material and revision of Melanorosaurus thabanensis,
a basal sauropodomorph from the Upper Triassic of Lesotho. PeerJ. 4, e1639.
Melanorosauridae Huene, 1929
Definition- (Melanorosaurus readi <- Anchisaurus polyzelus,
Saltasaurus loricatus) (Yates, 2007)
Other definitions- (Melanorosaurus readi <- Anchisaurus
polyzelus) (modified from Galton and Upchurch, 2004)
= Melanorosaurini Huene, 1929 vide Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991
References- Huene, 1929. Kurze �bersicht �ber die Saurischia
und ihre nat�rlichen Zusammenh�nge [A brief survey of the Saurischia
and their natural context]. Pal�ontologische Zeitschrift. 11, 269-273.
Kalandadze and Rautian, 1991. Late Triassic zoogeography and reconstruction
of the terrestrial tetrapod fauna of North Africa. Paleontological Journal.
1, 1-12.
Galton and Upchurch, 2004. Prosauropoda. in Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska
(eds.). The Dinosauria (second edition). University of California Press, Berkeley.
232-258.
Yates, 2007. The first complete skull of the Triassic dinosaur Melanorosaurus
Haughton (Sauropodomorpha: Anchisauria). Special Papers in Palaeontology. 77,
9-55.
Melanorosaurus