[D] Massospondylus kaalae
Describer
Barrett 2009
Time
Jurassic Early ?Hettangian ?Sinemurian [Olsen and Galton, 1984] or ?Pliensbachian ?Toarcian [Yates et al., 2004]).
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Prosauropoda Massospondylidae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa
Fall Under
Massospondylus
Info
Massospondylus (Owen, 1854) = Aetonyx (Broom, 1911) Aristosaurus (Hoepen, 1920) Dromicosaurus (Hoepen, 1920) Gryponyx (Broom, 1911) Gyposaurus (Broom, 1911))
Massospondylus > Massospondylus carinatus (Owen, 1854) >> Aetonyx palustris (Broom, 1911)) Anchisaurus capensis (Galton, 1976) = Gyposaurus capensis (Broom, 1911) Aristosaurus erectus (Hoepen, 1920) Dromicosaurus gracilis (Hoepen, 1920) Gryponyx africanus (Broom, 1911) Gryponyx taylori (Haughton, 1924) Massospondylus browni (Seeley, 1895) Massospondylus harriesi (Broom, 1911) Massospondylus schwarzi (Haughton, 1924) Thecondontosaurus browni (Huene, 1932) Thecondontosaurus dubius (Haughton, 1924), Thecodontosaurus skirtopodus (Seeley, 1894) Massospondylus kaalae (Barrett 2009)
Massospondylus kaalae sp. nov., is named on the basis of a partial skull from the upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of the Herschel District, South Africa. It can be distinguished from Massospondylus carinatus by a combination of character states relating to the proportions of the premaxilla, the presence of a strong ridge on the dorsolateral surface of the lacrimal, and the morphology of the braincase. The description of Massospondylus kaalae further increases sauropodomorph diversity in the previously depauperate upper Elliot fauna.
Holotype
SAM-PK-K1325, an incomplete and partially disarticulated skull that includes: left and right premaxillae, maxillae, lacrimals, jugals, pterygoids, frontals, and parietals; partial left nasal, partial left prefrontal, left postorbital, and partial right palatine; a partial braincase; a right dentary; a prearticular; an almost complete left mandible; teeth; and various indeterminate fragments.
Etymology
After Mrs Sheena Kaal, collections manager for the Karoo vertebrates at the Iziko South African Museum, in recognition of the assistance she has provided to numerous researchers working on the collections of South African tetrapods in her care.
Type locality and Horizon
Near Voyizane village (30 34’S; 27 26’E), Herschel District, Eastern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa (Barrett, 2004). Upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic: either Hettangian–?Sinemurian [Olsen and Galton, 1984] or Pliensbachian–?Toarcian [Yates et al., 2004]).
Diagnosis
A basal sauropodomorph dinosaur that can be distinguished from Massospondylus carinatus by the following combination of character states: premaxilla comprises >30% of the upper tooth row; dorsolateral ridge on the lacrimal more prominent than in M. carinatus; cultriform process of parabasisphenoid positioned ventral to the level of the basioccipital condyle; basipterygoid processes slender, elongate and unexpanded distally. Although none of these features are unique to M. kaalae they do not occur in this combination in any other taxon.
Barrett 2009
Time
Jurassic Early ?Hettangian ?Sinemurian [Olsen and Galton, 1984] or ?Pliensbachian ?Toarcian [Yates et al., 2004]).
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Prosauropoda Massospondylidae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa
Fall Under
Massospondylus
Info
Massospondylus (Owen, 1854) = Aetonyx (Broom, 1911) Aristosaurus (Hoepen, 1920) Dromicosaurus (Hoepen, 1920) Gryponyx (Broom, 1911) Gyposaurus (Broom, 1911))
Massospondylus > Massospondylus carinatus (Owen, 1854) >> Aetonyx palustris (Broom, 1911)) Anchisaurus capensis (Galton, 1976) = Gyposaurus capensis (Broom, 1911) Aristosaurus erectus (Hoepen, 1920) Dromicosaurus gracilis (Hoepen, 1920) Gryponyx africanus (Broom, 1911) Gryponyx taylori (Haughton, 1924) Massospondylus browni (Seeley, 1895) Massospondylus harriesi (Broom, 1911) Massospondylus schwarzi (Haughton, 1924) Thecondontosaurus browni (Huene, 1932) Thecondontosaurus dubius (Haughton, 1924), Thecodontosaurus skirtopodus (Seeley, 1894) Massospondylus kaalae (Barrett 2009)
Massospondylus kaalae sp. nov., is named on the basis of a partial skull from the upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of the Herschel District, South Africa. It can be distinguished from Massospondylus carinatus by a combination of character states relating to the proportions of the premaxilla, the presence of a strong ridge on the dorsolateral surface of the lacrimal, and the morphology of the braincase. The description of Massospondylus kaalae further increases sauropodomorph diversity in the previously depauperate upper Elliot fauna.
Holotype
SAM-PK-K1325, an incomplete and partially disarticulated skull that includes: left and right premaxillae, maxillae, lacrimals, jugals, pterygoids, frontals, and parietals; partial left nasal, partial left prefrontal, left postorbital, and partial right palatine; a partial braincase; a right dentary; a prearticular; an almost complete left mandible; teeth; and various indeterminate fragments.
Etymology
After Mrs Sheena Kaal, collections manager for the Karoo vertebrates at the Iziko South African Museum, in recognition of the assistance she has provided to numerous researchers working on the collections of South African tetrapods in her care.
Type locality and Horizon
Near Voyizane village (30 34’S; 27 26’E), Herschel District, Eastern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa (Barrett, 2004). Upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic: either Hettangian–?Sinemurian [Olsen and Galton, 1984] or Pliensbachian–?Toarcian [Yates et al., 2004]).
Diagnosis
A basal sauropodomorph dinosaur that can be distinguished from Massospondylus carinatus by the following combination of character states: premaxilla comprises >30% of the upper tooth row; dorsolateral ridge on the lacrimal more prominent than in M. carinatus; cultriform process of parabasisphenoid positioned ventral to the level of the basioccipital condyle; basipterygoid processes slender, elongate and unexpanded distally. Although none of these features are unique to M. kaalae they do not occur in this combination in any other taxon.