Gyposaurus

Taxobox|
name = "Gyposaurus

---

|outline
status = fossil
fossil_range = Early Jurassic
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
ordo = Saurischia
subordo = Sauropodomorpha
infraordo = ?Prosauropoda
familia = unknown
genus = "Gyposaurus"
genus authority = Broom, 1911
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "G. capensis" (type) Broom, 1911
* ?"G. sinenesis" Yang, 1940

"Gyposaurus" (meaning "vulture lizard", referring to the outdated hypothesis that prosauropods were carnivores) is a genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the early Jurassic of South Africa and China. It is usually considered to represent juveniles of other prosauropods, but "G." "sinensis" is regarded as a possibly valid species in recent reviews of the prosauropods (Galton and Upchurch, 2004).Galton, P.M., and Upchurch, P. (2004). Prosauropoda. In: D. B. Weishampel, P. Dodson, & H. Osmólska (eds.), "The Dinosauria" (second edition). University of California Press:Berkeley, 232-258. ISBN 0-520-24209-2]

"G. capensis" was named in 1911 by Scottish physician and paleontologist Robert Broom from a partial skeleton consisting of eleven dorsal and six caudal vertebrae, ribs, gastralia, partial right scapula, right pelvic girdle, left ilium, and most of the right leg, discovered in the Upper Elliot Formation of Orange Free State, South Africa.Broom, R. (1911). On the dinosaurs of the Stormberg, South Africa. "Annals of the South African Museum" 7(4):291-308.] Originally, he thought it pertained to the dubious genus "Hortalotarsus". Galton and Cluver synonymized it with "Anchisaurus" in 1976,Galton, P.M., and Cluver, M.A. (1976). "Anchisaurus capensis" (Broom) and a revision of the Anchisauridae (Reptilia, Saurischia). "Annals of the South African Museum" 69(6):121-159.] but Michael Cooper synonymized it with "Massospondylus" in 1981,Cooper, M.R. (1981). The prosauropod dinosaur "Massospondylus carinatus" Owen from Zimbabwe: its biology, mode of life and phylogenetic significance. "Occasional Papers of the National Museums and Monuments of Rhodesia, Series B, Natural Sciences" 6(10):689-840.] which has been generally accepted.

"G. sinensis" was named by Yang Zhongjian (C.C. Young) in 1940 from most of a skeleton with a partial skull found in the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation, Yunnan Province, China, and referred over a dozen other specimens to it.Z. Yang. 1940. Preliminary notes on the Lufeng vertebrate fossils. "Bulletin of the Geological Society of China" 20(3-4):235-239.] Galton in 1976 referred it to "Lufengosaurus" as a juvenile version,Galton, P.M. (1976). Prosauropod dinosaurs (Reptilia: Saurischia) of North America. "Postilla" 169:1-98.] but Dong Zhiming referred it to "Anchisaurus" in 1992.Z. Dong. (1992). "Dinosaurian Faunas of China". China Ocean Press:Beijing, 1-188. ISBN 0387520848] As mentioned, in the most recent review, Galton and Upchurch (2004) consider it as probably a valid, distinct taxon, in need of a new generic name.

References

External links

* [http://www.dinoruss.com/de_4/5a8af7a.htm "Gyposaurus" in the Dinosaur Encyclopaedia] at DinoRuss's Lair
* [http://www.users.qwest.net/~jstweet1/sauropodomorpha.htm "Gyposaurus" at "Thescelosaurus"!]