Chromogisaurus

Opisthokonta

Chromogisaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic, 230 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	†Sauropodomorpha
Family:	†Guaibasauridae
Subfamily:	†Saturnaliinae
Genus:	†Chromogisaurus Ezcurra, 2010
Species:	†C. novasi Ezcurra, 2010

Chromogisaurus is a sauropodomorph which existed in Argentina during the late Triassic period.^[1]

Chromogisaurus was first named by Martín Daniel Ezcurra in 2010, and the type species is Chromogisaurus novasi.^[1] The generic name is derived from Greek chroma, "colour", and gè, "earth", a reference to the Valle Pintado, the "Painted Valley". The specific name honours Fernando Emilio Novas.

The holotype, PVSJ 846, has been found in a layer of the Ischigualasto Formation dating from the Carnian. This makes Chromogisaurus one of the oldest known dinosaurs. The specimen consists of a partial skeleton lacking the skull. It includes elements of the front and hind limbs; the pelvis and two caudal vertebrae.

Chromogisaurus was a herbivore and about two metres long. According to Ezcurra it was optionally quadrupedal.

A cladistic analysis by Ezcurra indicated Chromogisaurus was a member of a clade of basal Sauropodomorpha, the Guaibasauridae, together with Guaibasaurus, Agnosphitys, Panphagia and Saturnalia. Within Guaibasauridae it forms a smaller clade with its sister taxon Saturnalia, the Saturnaliinae.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ezcurra, M. D. 2010. "A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic of Argentina: a reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny." Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 8: 371-425.