Vulcanodontidae

Vulcanodontidae
Temporal range: Early Jurassic, Sinemurian-Toarcian 199–175 Ma
Models of Vulcanodon in Poland
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: †Sauropodomorpha
Clade: †Sauropoda
Clade: †Gravisauria
Family: †Vulcanodontidae
Cooper, 1984
Genera
Synonyms
  • †Barapasauridae Hunt et al., 1995

The Early Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs Zizhongosaurus, Barapasaurus, Tazoudasaurus, and Vulcanodon may form a natural group of basal sauropods called the Vulcanodontidae. Basal vulcanodonts include some of the earliest known examples of sauropods. The family-level name Vulcanodontidae was erected by M.R. Cooper in 1984. In 1995 Hunt et al. published the opinion that the family is synonymous with the Barapasauridae. One of the key morphological features specific to the family is an unusually narrow sacrum.

References

  1. ^ Cooper, M.R. (1984). "A reassessment of Vulcanodon karibaensis Raath (Dinosauria: Saurischia) and the origin of the Sauropoda". Palaeontologia Africana 25: 203–231.
  2. ^ A. P. Hunt, M. G. Lockley, S. G. Lucas and C. A. Meyer (1995). "The global sauropod fossil record". Gaia 10: 261-279.