| Camposaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Theropoda |
| Superfamily: | Coelophysoidea |
| Family: | Coelophysidae |
| Genus: | Camposaurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Camposaurus arizonensis Hunt et al., 1998 |
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Camposaurus (meaning "Charles Lewis Camp's lizard") is a coelophysoid dinosaur genus from the Late Triassic of North America. With fossils dating back to the early to middle Norian stage, it is the oldest known neotheropod. It is known from partial lower leg bones, holotype UCMP 34498, and other fragmentary material. Like other coelophysids, it has fused tibio-tarsals and fibula-tarsals. Unlike its relatives, the area of the tibia that fits with the fibula has a distinct ridge at the back. Another unique feature is the lack of a large medial condyle on the astragalus.[1]
The type species, C. arizonensis, was formally named and described by Adrian Hunt, Spencer G. Lucas, Andrew B. Heckert, Robert Sullivan and Martin Lockley in 1998.[2] As the species name suggests, it was by Camp found in Arizona, in the United States. It was similar to, and has actually been considered a species of, Coelophysis. The lack of material has led many paleontologists to reject it as a nomen dubium, or doubtful name. Camposaurus has more recently been considered a valid taxon based on the two unique features, autapomorphies, of the leg bones. In 2011, it was placed in a phylogenetic analysis and found to be a close relative of Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis (considered to be a species of Coelophysis in the analysis).[1]