Massospondylus
Massospondylus carinatus
Massospondylus foi um terópode herbívoro do Jurássico, descrito por Richard Owen. Viveu há aproximadamente 237.0-192.9 milhões de anos, na região do que hoje é África. Medindo de 4.0-6.0 m, pesando 135-490 kg, era um representante característico da fauna mesozoica.
Massospondylus ( MASS-oh-SPON-di-lus) is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of southern Africa. It was described by Richard Owen in 1854 from remains discovered in South Africa, and is thus one of the first dinosaurs to have been named. The name Massospondylus means 'longer vertebra', alluding to what Owen identified as tail vertebrae; these vertebrae are now known to be from the neck. Although the original fossils were destroyed in London during The Blitz, a plethora of specimens have since been assigned to the genus, making it one of the best-known sauropodomorphs from the Early Jurassic. The genus lived during the Hettangian, Sinemurian, and Pliensbachian ages, which lasted from ca. 201 to 184 million years ago. Most fossils come from the upper Elliot and Clarens formations of South Africa and Lesotho, but the genus is also found in the Forest Sandstone and the Mpandi Formation of Zimbabwe. Material from the US, India, and Argentina was previously assigned to the genus, but the US and Argentinian specimens are now assigned to their own genera (Sarahsaurus and Adeopapposaurus). Because of their great abundance, Massospondylus fossils have been used to date rocks, and a biozone, the Massospondylus Range Zone, is named after the genus.
Two species are considered valid: the type species M. carinatus, as well as M. kaalae, which was named in 2009 and is known from a single skull. Six other species have been named during the past 150 years but are no longer recognised. Originally, Massospondylus and similar dinosaurs have been regarded as theropods, but are now classified as basal ("early diverging") members of Sauropodomorpha. This group also includes sauropods.…
- Família
- Massospondylidae
- Ordem
- Saurischia
- Período
- Jurassic (237.0-192.9 MYA)
- Dieta
- Herbivore
- Comprimento
- 4.0-6.0 m
- Peso
- 135-490 kg
Fatos científicos
- Medindo 4.0-6.0 m, tinha porte médio para os padrões mesozoicos
- Herbívoro especializado do Jurássico, provavelmente pastava em vegetação de África
- Seus fósseis foram encontrados na região de África, contribuindo para o entendimento da fauna jurássico local
- Vivendo há 237.0-192.9Ma, é um dos dinossauros mais antigos catalogados
- Foi descrito cientificamente por Richard Owen, contribuindo para o entendimento da diversidade dinossauriana