Camposaurus
- Not to be confused with Camptosaurus.
| Camposaurus Temporal range: Upper Triassic |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Theropoda |
| Superfamily: | Coelophysoidea |
| Family: | Coelophysidae |
| Genus: | Camposaurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Camposaurus arizonensis Hunt et al., 1998 |
|
Camposaurus is a dinosaur from the Late Triassic of North America. It is a relative of Coelophysis. This relationship was upheld by a recent phylogenetic anlysis.[1]
With fossils dating back to 205–210 million years ago (mya), it is the oldest known neotheropod. It is known from partial lower leg bones and other fragmentary material.[1][2]
A study of Camposaurus arizoniensis by Ezcurra and Brusatte discovered two unique features.[1] This meant the specimen was a valid genus and species. Camposaurus is definitely a neotheropod. Based on phylogenetic analysis, its closest known relative is Megapnosaurus rhodensis, because they share similarities in the tibia, and ankle.[1] Spielman et al. (2007) put Camposaurus in the family Coelophysidae.[3]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ezcurra M.D. and Brusatte S.L. 2011. Taxonomic and phylogenetic reassessment of the early neotheropod dinosaur Camposaurus arizonensis from the late Triassic of North America. Palaeontology 54 (4): 763–772.
- ↑ A.P. Hunt et al. 1998. Late Triassic dinosaurs from the western United States. Géobios 31(4): 511-531
- ↑ Spielmann J.A. et al 2007. Oldest records of the Late Triassic theropod dinosaur Coelophysis bauri. In S.G. Lucas & J.A. Spielmann (eds) The global Triassic. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 41, 384-401
