DOCSLIB.ORG

University of Cape Town

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
University of Cape Town Unravelling the biology of t h e S outhern African Sauropodomorph dinosaurs , Plateosauravus a n d t h e ‘Maphutseng dinosaur’ . Em il Dariu s K rupandan ThesisUniversity presented for the of degree Cape of Doctor Town of Philosophy I n t h e Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town F e b r u a r y , 2 0 1 9 The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town i Declaration of Free Licence I hereby grant the University free license to reproduce the above thesis in whole or in part, for the purpose of research. I declare that the above thesis is my own unaided work, both in conception and execution, and that apart from the normal guidance of my supervisor s , I have received no assistance apart from that stated below. E x c e p t a s stated below, neither the substance or any part of the thesis has been submitted in the past, or is being, or is to be submitted for a degree at this University or any other University. I am now presenting the thesis for examination for the Degree o f P h D . _________________ Emil Darius Krupandan 11th d a y o f F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9 at the University of Cape Town ii I confirm that I have been granted permission by the University of Cape Town’s Doctoral Degrees Board to include the f o l l o w i n g publication(s) in my PhD thesis, and where co - authorships are involved, my co - authors have agreed that I may include the publication(s): 1 . Krupandan, E., Chinsamy ‐ Turan, A. & Pol, D. 2018. The long bone histology of the sauropodomorph, Antetonitrus ingenipes. The Anatomical Record. 301(9):1506 - 1 5 1 8 . SIGNATURE: DATE: 0 3 / 07/ 2 0 1 9 STUDENT NAME: Emil Darius Krupandan STUDENT NUMBER: K R P E M I 0 0 1 iii A b s t r a c t T h e nomen dubium “ Euskelosaurus ” has functioned as a waste - basket taxon for decades , with large bodied sauropodomorph material from South Africa assigned to it without proper analysis. Following the collapse of Euskelosaurus , material p r e v i ously assigned to it was summarily referred to Plateosauravus cullingworthi . Based on this, material referred t o Euskelosaurus from Maphutseng, Lesotho (NMQR 1705) would technically also be referr a b l e t o Plateosauravus . In light of the tenuous nature of th e taxonomic affinity of these materials, a thorough analysis of material associated with both taxa follows. The validity of Plateosauravus was evaluated and the taxonomic affinity of material previously reffered to Euskelosaurus (NMQR 1705) tested. T h e Plateosauravus cullingworthi hypodigm was subject to a rigorous anatomical and phylogenetic a n a l y s es in order to test its taxonomic validity. Undescribed material from Maphutseng, Lesotho (NMQR 1705) was also analysed. It was hypo t h e s i s e d t h a t Plateosauravus was a valid non - Massopodan dinosaur and that NMQR 1705 represented a basal sauropod, with concomitant growth dynamics. Skeletal elements from Plateosauravus and NMQR 1705 were anatomically described and taxonomically identifie d based on comparisons with other sauropodomorph taxa. Anatomical data was scored in a character matrix and subject to phylogenetic analyses. The growth dynamics of NQMR 1705 was investigated through histological analysis of thin sections of long bones. T he material referred to Plateosauravus shows that some of the material belongs to a non - Massopodan basal sauropodomorph t h a t , but there also exists material that should iv be excluded from this taxon based on doubtful provenance and association. The Maphutseng material (NMQR 1705) can be referred to Antetonitrus ingenipes . New elements describe d , including a complete sacrum, reveal additional adaptations highlighting Antetonitrus ’ position as a transitional basal sauropod, exhibiting a mosaic o f basal sauropomorph and derived sauropod characterisitcs. The phylogenetic analysis corroborates the position of Antetonitrus as the sister taxon of Lessemsaurus sauropoides (Bonaparte, 1999), but the new information from the pes indicates that both taxa a r e m o r e derived than Blikanasaurus cromptoni (Galton & Van Heerden, 1 9 9 8 ) . Growth patterns in the youngest individuals of NMQR 1705 exhibit uninterrupted fibrolamellar bone without any growth m a r k s . S u b - adult individuals, also exhibit highly vascularised fibrolamellar bone throughout the cortex, as in more derived sauropods and t he basal sauropodiforme M u s s a u r u s patagonicus , but growth lines occur intermittently throughout the cortex as in Lessemsaurus . Antetonitrus (NMQR 1705) does not exhibit the growth dynamics previously considered characteristic of Sauropoda. Growth marks a re decoupled from bone size, indicating a level of developmental plasticity in this taxon. Modulations in the pattern of vascular canal arrangements throughout the fibrolamellar bone in the cortex may be related to resource availability. Localised bands of radial fibrolamellar bone, followed by resumption of normal growth in two samples indicate disease infliction, and subsequent recovery. v “ If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.” - Douglas Adams vi Acknowledgements Firstly, I’d like to express my thanks to my two supervisors, A. C h i n s a m y - Turan and D. Pol, without whom this work would not h a v e b e e n possible. Both of them have provided me with countless opportunities and funding to learn new techniques, visit collections across South Africa and Argentina and generally become a fully - fledged palaeontologist. I am grateful to J . B o t h a - Brink and E. Butl er (National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa) for allowing for the histological analysis of NMQR 1705; as well as t o B. Rubidge and B. Zipfel (Evolutionary Studies Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa) for access to the holotype of Antetonitrus ingenip es a n d o t h e r comparative material on countless occasions. I’d also like to extend thanks to S. Kaal , Z Skosana and R . S m i t h at Iziko Natural History Museum for access to the collections throughout my work. Further acknowledgments go t o C. Apaldett i and A. Otero for advice, discussion and assistance in South Africa and Argentina throughout my s t u d i e s . L a s t l y , I’d like to thank my family and friends for supporting me throughout this endeavour. This research was supported by a South African National R esearch Foundation (NRF) Scarce Skills Bursary and Palaeontological and Scientific Trust (PAST) grant to E. K r u p a n d a n . v i i T A B L E O F C ONTENTS List of Tables v i i i List of Figures ix C h a p t e r s P a g e 1. Introduction 1 2. S t u d y 1 : The taxonomic validity of P lateosauravus 1 1 cullingworthi (Haughton, 1924) 3. S t u d y 2 : The taxonomic affinity of the “Maphutseng Dinosaur” (NMQR 1705) 53 4. S t u d y 3 : The long bone histology of Antetonitrus 101 i n g e n i p e s . 5. Concluding remarks and future work 1 30 R e f e r e n c e s 138 A p p e n d i c e s A p p endix 1: Character List 219 Appendix 2: D e t a i l s o f Phylogenetic Analysis 254 Appendix 3: Chapter 2 a n d 3 Phylogenetic Analys i s 261 OTU S c o r e s v i i i LIST OF TABLES P a g e T a b l e 1 : Phylogenetic nomenclature for clades 3 mentioned throughout the text T a b l e 2 : Sources of comparative taxa 1 6 T a b l e 3 : Elements present in Antetonitrus h o l o t y p e 61 ( BPI/1/4952a), previously referred material (BPI/1/4952a, b, c; BPI/1/5091; NMQR 1545) and Maphutseng material (NMQR 1705). T a b l e 4 : List of specimens studied, including s u m m a r y 1 22 of histological f e a t u r e s . ix L I S T O F FIGURES P a g e C h a p t e r 2 : F i g u r e 1 . S AM PK 3356, Dorsal centrum. 2 2 F i g u r e 2 . SAM PK 3348. V e n t r a l portion of left 2 3 s c a p u l a F i g u r e 3 . SAM PK 3342. & SAM PK 3350. Left humeri. 2 5 F i g u r e 4 . SAM PK 3347. left radius 2 6 F i g u r e 5 . SAM PK 3341. Partial proximal right 2 7 i s c h i u m . F i g u r e 6 . S A M P K 3 3 4 1 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Studies on Continental Late Triassic Tetrapod Biochronology. I. the Type Locality of Saturnalia Tupiniquim and the Faunal Succession in South Brazil
    Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 205–218 www.elsevier.com/locate/jsames Studies on continental Late Triassic tetrapod biochronology. I. The type locality of Saturnalia tupiniquim and the faunal succession in south Brazil Max Cardoso Langer* Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP, Universidade de Sa˜o Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, 14040-901 Ribeira˜o Preto, SP, Brazil Received 1 November 2003; accepted 1 January 2005 Abstract Late Triassic deposits of the Parana´ Basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, encompass a single third-order, tetrapod-bearing sedimentary sequence that includes parts of the Alemoa Member (Santa Maria Formation) and the Caturrita Formation. A rich, diverse succession of terrestrial tetrapod communities is recorded in these sediments, which can be divided into at least three faunal associations. The stem- sauropodomorph Saturnalia tupiniquim was collected in the locality known as ‘Waldsanga’ near the city of Santa Maria. In that area, the deposits of the Alemoa Member yield the ‘Alemoa local fauna,’ which typifies the first association; includes the rhynchosaur Hyperodapedon, aetosaurs, and basal dinosaurs; and is coeval with the lower fauna of the Ischigualasto Formation, Bermejo Basin, NW Argentina. The second association is recorded in deposits of both the Alemoa Member and the Caturrita Formation, characterized by the rhynchosaur ‘Scaphonyx’ sulcognathus and the cynodont Exaeretodon, and correlated with the upper fauna of the Ischigualasto Formation. Various isolated outcrops of the Caturrita Formation yield tetrapod fossils that correspond to post-Ischigualastian faunas but might not belong to a single faunal association. The record of the dicynodont Jachaleria suggests correlations with the lower part of the Los Colorados Formation, NW Argentina, whereas remains of derived tritheledontid cynodonts indicate younger ages.
    [Show full text]
  • Valérie Martin, Varavudh Suteethorn & Eric Buffetaut, Description of the Type and Referred Material of Phuwiangosaurus
    ORYCTOS, V ol . 2 : 39 - 91, Décembre 1999 DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPE AND REFERRED MATERIAL OF PHUWIANGOSAURUS SIRINDHORNAE MARTIN, BUFFETAUT AND SUTEETHORN, 1994, A SAUROPOD FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF THAILAND Valérie MARTIN 1, Varavudh SUTEETHORN 2 and Eric BUFFETAUT 3 1 Musée des Dinosaures, 11260 Espéraza, France 2 Geological Survey Division, Department of Mineral Resources, Rama VI Road, 10400 Bangkok, Thailand 3 CNRS (UMR 5561), 16 cour du Liégat, 75013 Paris, France Abstract : The type specimen of P. sirindhornae Martin, Buffetaut and Suteethorn, 1994 is an incomplete, partly articulated, skeleton discovered in the Phu Wiang area of northeastern Thailand). Most of the abundant sauropod material from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous), collected on the Khorat Plateau, in northeastern Thailand, is referable to this species. Phuwiangosaurus is a middle-sized sauropod, which is clearly different from the Jurassic Chinese sauropods (Euhelopodidae). On the basis of a few jaw elements and teeth, P. sirindhornae may be considered as an early representative of the family Nemegtosauridae. Key words : Sauropoda, Osteology, Early Cretaceous, Thailand Description du type et du matériel rapporté de Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae Martin, Buffetaut et Suteethorn, 1994, un sauropode du Crétacé inférieur de Thaïlande Résumé : Le spécimen type de Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae est un squelette incomplet, partiellement articulé, découvert dans la région de Phu Wiang (Nord-Est de la Thaïlande). Phuwiangosaurus est un sauropode de taille moyenne (15 à 20 m de longueur) très différent des sauropodes du Jurassique chinois. La majeure partie de l’abondant matériel de sauropodes, récolté sur le Plateau de Khorat (Formation Sao Khua, Crétacé inférieur), est rap - portée à cette espèce.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origin and Early Evolution of Dinosaurs
    Biol. Rev. (2010), 85, pp. 55–110. 55 doi:10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00094.x The origin and early evolution of dinosaurs Max C. Langer1∗,MartinD.Ezcurra2, Jonathas S. Bittencourt1 and Fernando E. Novas2,3 1Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP, Universidade de S˜ao Paulo; Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeir˜ao Preto-SP, Brazil 2Laboratorio de Anatomia Comparada y Evoluci´on de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘‘Bernardino Rivadavia’’, Avda. Angel Gallardo 470, Cdad. de Buenos Aires, Argentina 3CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient´ıficas y T´ecnicas); Avda. Rivadavia 1917 - Cdad. de Buenos Aires, Argentina (Received 28 November 2008; revised 09 July 2009; accepted 14 July 2009) ABSTRACT The oldest unequivocal records of Dinosauria were unearthed from Late Triassic rocks (approximately 230 Ma) accumulated over extensional rift basins in southwestern Pangea. The better known of these are Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis, Pisanosaurus mertii, Eoraptor lunensis,andPanphagia protos from the Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina, and Staurikosaurus pricei and Saturnalia tupiniquim from the Santa Maria Formation, Brazil. No uncontroversial dinosaur body fossils are known from older strata, but the Middle Triassic origin of the lineage may be inferred from both the footprint record and its sister-group relation to Ladinian basal dinosauromorphs. These include the typical Marasuchus lilloensis, more basal forms such as Lagerpeton and Dromomeron, as well as silesaurids: a possibly monophyletic group composed of Mid-Late Triassic forms that may represent immediate sister taxa to dinosaurs. The first phylogenetic definition to fit the current understanding of Dinosauria as a node-based taxon solely composed of mutually exclusive Saurischia and Ornithischia was given as ‘‘all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of birds and Triceratops’’.
    [Show full text]
  • A Theropod Tooth from the Late Triassic of Southern Africa
    A theropod tooth from the Late Triassic of southern Africa ,† SANGHAMITRA RAY and ANUSUYA CHINSAMY* Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa *Present address: South African Museum, Post Office Box 61, Cape Town 8000, South Africa †Corresponding author (Fax, 27 21 424 6716; Email, [email protected]) An isolated, large recurved and finely serrated tooth found associated with the prosauropod Euskelosaurus from the Late Triassic part of the Elliot Formation is described here. It is compared to the Triassic thecodonts and carnivorous dinosaurs and its possible affinity is discussed. The tooth possibly belongs to a basal theropod and shows some features similar to the allosauroids. This tooth is of significance, as dinosaur remains except for some footprints and trackways, are poorly known in the Late Triassic horizons of southern Africa. [Ray S and Chinsamy A 2002 A theropod tooth from the Late Triassic of southern Africa; J. Biosci. 27 295–298] 1. Introduction association of the prosauropod remains with large, re- curved and finely serrated teeth (Huene 1932; Charig The Mesozoic sediments of the Elliot Formation, Karoo et al 1965; Cooper 1980). These teeth were variously Supergroup, serve as rich repositories of vertebrate fauna, attributed to the carnosaurs (Basutodon ferox Huene dominated by dinosaurs, turtles, fishes, therapsids, rep- 1932), prosauropods (Charig et al 1965; Cooper 1980), tilian footprints and trackways. Fossil wood and concho- rauisuchians (Hopson 1984; Olsen and Galton 1984) strachan crustaceans are also common. Based on the and basal theropods (Galton and Heerden 1998). A fossil content, the formation has been divided into two serrated partial tooth collected near the Telle river in biozones.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sauropodomorph Biostratigraphy of the Elliot Formation of Southern Africa: Tracking the Evolution of Sauropodomorpha Across the Triassic–Jurassic Boundary
    Editors' choice The sauropodomorph biostratigraphy of the Elliot Formation of southern Africa: Tracking the evolution of Sauropodomorpha across the Triassic–Jurassic boundary BLAIR W. MCPHEE, EMESE M. BORDY, LARA SCISCIO, and JONAH N. CHOINIERE McPhee, B.W., Bordy, E.M., Sciscio, L., and Choiniere, J.N. 2017. The sauropodomorph biostratigraphy of the Elliot Formation of southern Africa: Tracking the evolution of Sauropodomorpha across the Triassic–Jurassic boundary. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62 (3): 441–465. The latest Triassic is notable for coinciding with the dramatic decline of many previously dominant groups, followed by the rapid radiation of Dinosauria in the Early Jurassic. Among the most common terrestrial vertebrates from this time, sauropodomorph dinosaurs provide an important insight into the changing dynamics of the biota across the Triassic–Jurassic boundary. The Elliot Formation of South Africa and Lesotho preserves the richest assemblage of sauropodomorphs known from this age, and is a key index assemblage for biostratigraphic correlations with other simi- larly-aged global terrestrial deposits. Past assessments of Elliot Formation biostratigraphy were hampered by an overly simplistic biozonation scheme which divided it into a lower “Euskelosaurus” Range Zone and an upper Massospondylus Range Zone. Here we revise the zonation of the Elliot Formation by: (i) synthesizing the last three decades’ worth of fossil discoveries, taxonomic revision, and lithostratigraphic investigation; and (ii) systematically reappraising the strati- graphic provenance of important fossil locations. We then use our revised stratigraphic information in conjunction with phylogenetic character data to assess morphological disparity between Late Triassic and Early Jurassic sauropodomorph taxa. Our results demonstrate that the Early Jurassic upper Elliot Formation is considerably more taxonomically and morphologically diverse than previously thought.
    [Show full text]
  • Titanosauriform Teeth from the Cretaceous of Japan
    “main” — 2011/2/10 — 15:59 — page 247 — #1 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2011) 83(1): 247-265 (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) Printed version ISSN 0001-3765 / Online version ISSN 1678-2690 www.scielo.br/aabc Titanosauriform teeth from the Cretaceous of Japan HARUO SAEGUSA1 and YUKIMITSU TOMIDA2 1Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo, Yayoigaoka 6, Sanda, 669-1546, Japan 2National Museum of Nature and Science, 3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan Manuscript received on October 25, 2010; accepted for publication on January 7, 2011 ABSTRACT Sauropod teeth from six localities in Japan were reexamined. Basal titanosauriforms were present in Japan during the Early Cretaceous before Aptian, and there is the possibility that the Brachiosauridae may have been included. Basal titanosauriforms with peg-like teeth were present during the “mid” Cretaceous, while the Titanosauria with peg-like teeth was present during the middle of Late Cretaceous. Recent excavations of Cretaceous sauropods in Asia showed that multiple lineages of sauropods lived throughout the Cretaceous in Asia. Japanese fossil records of sauropods are conformable with this hypothesis. Key words: Sauropod, Titanosauriforms, tooth, Cretaceous, Japan. INTRODUCTION humerus from the Upper Cretaceous Miyako Group at Moshi, Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Pref. (Hasegawa et al. Although more than twenty four dinosaur fossil local- 1991), all other localities provided fossil teeth (Tomida ities have been known in Japan (Azuma and Tomida et al. 2001, Tomida and Tsumura 2006, Saegusa et al. 1998, Kobayashi et al. 2006, Saegusa et al. 2008, Ohara 2008, Azuma and Shibata 2010).
    [Show full text]
  • Note on the Sauropod and Theropod Dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of Madagascar*
    EXTRACT FROM THE BULLETIN DE LA SOCIÉTÉ GÉOLOGIQUE DE FRANCE 3rd series, volume XXIV, page 176, 1896. NOTE ON THE SAUROPOD AND THEROPOD DINOSAURS FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF MADAGASCAR* by Charles DEPÉRET. (PLATE VI). Translated by Matthew Carrano Department of Anatomical Sciences SUNY at Stony Brook, September 1999 The bones of large dinosaurian reptiles described in this work were brought to me by my good friend, Mr. Dr. Félix Salètes, primary physician for the Madagascar expedition, from the environs of Maevarana, where he was charged with installing a provisional hospital. This locality is situated on the right bank of the eastern arm of the Betsiboka, 46 kilometers south of Majunga, on the northwest coast of the island of Madagascar. Not having the time to occupy himself with paleontological studies, Dr. Salètes charged one of his auxiliary agents, Mr. Landillon, company sergeant-major of the marines, with researching the fossils in the environs of the Maevarana post. Thanks to the zeal and activity of Mr. Landillon, who was not afraid to gravely expose his health in these researches, I have been able to receive the precious bones of terrestrial reptiles that are the object of this note, along with an important series of fossil marine shells. I eagerly seize the opportunity here to thank Mr. Landillon for his important shipment and for the very precise geological data which he communicated to me concerning the environs of Maevarana, and of which I will now give a short sketch. 1st. Geology of Maevarana and placement of the localities. * Original reference: Depéret, C.
    [Show full text]
  • Massospondylus Carinatus Owen 1854 (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Lower Jurassic of South Africa: Proposed Conservation of Usage by Designation of a Neotype
    Massospondylus carinatus Owen 1854 (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Lower Jurassic of South Africa: Proposed conservation of usage by designation of a neotype Adam M. Yates1* & Paul M. Barrett2 1Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa 2Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, U.K. Received 17 February 2010. Accepted 12 November 2010 The purpose of this article is to preserve the usage of the binomen Massospondylus carinatus by designating a neotype specimen. Massospondylus is the most abundant basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic strata of southern Africa. This taxon forms the basis for an extensive palaeobiological literature and is the eponym of Massospondylidae and the nominal taxon of a biostratigraphical unit in current usage, the ‘Massospondylus Range Zone’. The syntype series of M. carinatus (five disarticulated and broken vertebrae) was destroyed during World War II, but plaster casts and illustrations of the material survive. Nonetheless, these materials cannot act as type material for this taxon under the rules of the ICZN Code. In order to avoid nomenclatural instability, we hereby designate BP/1/4934 (a skull and largely complete postcranial skeleton) as the neotype of Massospondylus carinatus. Keywords: Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha, Massospondylidae, Massospondylus, Massospondylus carinatus, neotype, South Africa, upper Elliot Formation, Early Jurassic. INTRODUCTION same taxon, possibly even the same individual, as at least Richard Owen described and named Massospondylus some of the syntype series of Massospondylus carinatus. carinatus (1854, p. 97) with carinatus as the type species of Their initial separation from Massospondylus carinatus the genus by monotypy.
    [Show full text]
  • A Re-Evaluation of the Enigmatic Dinosauriform Caseosaurus Crosbyensis from the Late Triassic of Texas, USA and Its Implications for Early Dinosaur Evolution
    A re-evaluation of the enigmatic dinosauriform Caseosaurus crosbyensis from the Late Triassic of Texas, USA and its implications for early dinosaur evolution MATTHEW G. BARON and MEGAN E. WILLIAMS Baron, M.G. and Williams, M.E. 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. The holotype specimen of the Late Triassic dinosauriform Caseosaurus crosbyensis is redescribed and evaluated phylogenetically for the first time, providing new anatomical information and data on the earliest dinosaurs and their evolution within the dinosauromorph lineage. Historically, Caseosaurus crosbyensis has been considered to represent an early saurischian dinosaur, and often a herrerasaur. More recent work on Triassic dinosaurs has cast doubt over its supposed dinosaurian affinities and uncertainty about particular features in the holotype and only known specimen has led to the species being regarded as a dinosauriform of indeterminate position. Here, we present a new diagnosis for Caseosaurus crosbyensis and refer additional material to the taxon—a partial right ilium from Snyder Quarry. Our com- parisons and phylogenetic analyses suggest that Caseosaurus crosbyensis belongs in a clade with herrerasaurs and that this clade is the sister taxon of Dinosauria, rather than positioned within it. This result, along with other recent analyses of early dinosaurs, pulls apart what remains of the “traditional” group of dinosaurs collectively termed saurischians into a polyphyletic assemblage and implies that Dinosauria should be regarded as composed exclusively of Ornithoscelida (Ornithischia + Theropoda) and Sauropodomorpha. In addition, our analysis recovers the enigmatic European taxon Saltopus elginensis among herrerasaurs for the first time.
    [Show full text]
  • The Anatomy and Phylogenetic Relationships of Antetonitrus Ingenipes (Sauropodiformes, Dinosauria): Implications for the Origins of Sauropoda
    THE ANATOMY AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF ANTETONITRUS INGENIPES (SAUROPODIFORMES, DINOSAURIA): IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ORIGINS OF SAUROPODA Blair McPhee A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2013 i ii ABSTRACT A thorough description and cladistic analysis of the Antetonitrus ingenipes type material sheds further light on the stepwise acquisition of sauropodan traits just prior to the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. Although the forelimb of Antetonitrus and other closely related sauropododomorph taxa retains the plesiomorphic morphology typical of a mobile grasping structure, the changes in the weight-bearing dynamics of both the musculature and the architecture of the hindlimb document the progressive shift towards a sauropodan form of graviportal locomotion. Nonetheless, the presence of hypertrophied muscle attachment sites in Antetonitrus suggests the retention of an intermediary form of facultative bipedality. The term Sauropodiformes is adopted here and given a novel definition intended to capture those transitional sauropodomorph taxa occupying a contiguous position on the pectinate line towards Sauropoda. The early record of sauropod diversification and evolution is re- examined in light of the paraphyletic consensus that has emerged regarding the ‘Prosauropoda’ in recent years. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to express sincere gratitude to Adam Yates for providing me with the opportunity to do ‘real’ palaeontology, and also for gladly sharing his considerable knowledge on sauropodomorph osteology and phylogenetics. This project would not have been possible without the continued (and continual) support (both emotionally and financially) of my parents, Alf and Glenda McPhee – Thank you.
    [Show full text]
  • Dinosaur Species List E to M
    Dinosaur Species List E to M E F G • Echinodon becklesii • Fabrosaurus australis • Gallimimus bullatus • Edmarka rex • Frenguellisaurus • Garudimimus brevipes • Edmontonia longiceps ischigualastensis • Gasosaurus constructus • Edmontonia rugosidens • Fulengia youngi • Gasparinisaura • Edmontosaurus annectens • Fulgurotherium australe cincosaltensis • Edmontosaurus regalis • Genusaurus sisteronis • Edmontosaurus • Genyodectes serus saskatchewanensis • Geranosaurus atavus • Einiosaurus procurvicornis • Gigantosaurus africanus • Elaphrosaurus bambergi • Giganotosaurus carolinii • Elaphrosaurus gautieri • Gigantosaurus dixeyi • Elaphrosaurus iguidiensis • Gigantosaurus megalonyx • Elmisaurus elegans • Gigantosaurus robustus • Elmisaurus rarus • Gigantoscelus • Elopteryx nopcsai molengraaffi • Elosaurus parvus • Gilmoreosaurus • Emausaurus ernsti mongoliensis • Embasaurus minax • Giraffotitan altithorax • Enigmosaurus • Gongbusaurus shiyii mongoliensis • Gongbusaurus • Eoceratops canadensis wucaiwanensis • Eoraptor lunensis • Gorgosaurus lancensis • Epachthosaurus sciuttoi • Gorgosaurus lancinator • Epanterias amplexus • Gorgosaurus libratus • Erectopus sauvagei • "Gorgosaurus" novojilovi • Erectopus superbus • Gorgosaurus sternbergi • Erlikosaurus andrewsi • Goyocephale lattimorei • Eucamerotus foxi • Gravitholus albertae • Eucercosaurus • Gresslyosaurus ingens tanyspondylus • Gresslyosaurus robustus • Eucnemesaurus fortis • Gresslyosaurus torgeri • Euhelopus zdanskyi • Gryponyx africanus • Euoplocephalus tutus • Gryponyx taylori • Euronychodon
    [Show full text]
  • High European Sauropod Dinosaur Diversity During Jurassic–Cretaceous Transition in Riodeva (Teruel, Spain)
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by RERO DOC Digital Library [Palaeontology, Vol. 52, Part 5, 2009, pp. 1009–1027] HIGH EUROPEAN SAUROPOD DINOSAUR DIVERSITY DURING JURASSIC–CRETACEOUS TRANSITION IN RIODEVA (TERUEL, SPAIN) by RAFAEL ROYO-TORRES*, ALBERTO COBOS*, LUIS LUQUE*, AINARA ABERASTURI*, , EDUARDO ESPI´LEZ*, IGNACIO FIERRO*, ANA GONZA´ LEZ*, LUIS MAMPEL* and LUIS ALCALA´ * *Fundacio´n Conjunto Paleontolo´gico de Teruel-Dino´polis. Avda. Sagunto s ⁄ n. E-44002 Teruel, Spain; e-mail: [email protected] Escuela Taller de Restauracio´n Paleontolo´gica II del Gobierno de Arago´n. Avda. Sagunto s ⁄ n. E-44002 Teruel, Spain Typescript received 13 December 2007; accepted in revised form 3 November 2008 Abstract: Up to now, more than 40 dinosaur sites have (CPT-1074) referring to the Diplodocidae clade. New been found in the latest Jurassic – earliest Cretaceous remains from the RD-28, RD-41 and RD-43 sites, of the sedimentary outcrops (Villar del Arzobispo Formation) of same age, among which there are caudal vertebrae, are Riodeva (Iberian Range, Spain). Those already excavated, assigned to Macronaria. New sauropod footprints from the as well as other findings, provide a large and diverse Villar del Arzobispo Formation complete the extraordinary number of sauropod remains, suggesting a great diversity sauropod record coming to light in the area. The inclusion for this group in the Iberian Peninsula during this time. of other sauropods from different contemporaneous expo- Vertebrae and ischial remains from Riodevan site RD-13 sures in Teruel within the Turiasauria clade adds new evi- are assigned to Turiasaurus riodevensis (a species described dence of a great diversity of sauropods in Iberia during in RD-10, Barrihonda site), which is part of the the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition.
    [Show full text]