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

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  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ A.P. Hunt et al. 1998. Late Triassic dinosaurs from the western United States. Géobios 31(4): 511-531
  3. ↑ 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