Azendohsaurus
| Azendohsaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A. laaroussi jaw with teeth | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Infraclass: | Archosauromorpha |
| Genus: | Azendohsaurus Dutuit, 1972 |
| Species | |
| |
Azendohsaurus (meaning "Azendoh lizard") was a genus of herbivorous archosauromorph from the Late Triassic Period of Morocco. The type species (A. laaroussi) is known only from a partial jaw fragment (with some teeth) from Morocco. Azendohsaurus was previously regarded as a dinosaur, as either an ornithischian or a prosauropod.[1][2] New research (including new material discovered in Madagascar) suggests that Azendohsaurus is not a dinosaur at all, but a non-archosauriform archosauromorph that independently evolved many craniodental characters similar to herbivorous dinosaurs.[3]
The type specimen, A. laaroussi, was described by J. M. Dutuit in 1972. A second species, A. madagaskarensis, was described in 2010. A. laaroussi is known only from teeth and jaws, which have derived features of several dinosaur groups, such as a leaf-like shape and denticles.[3] However, A. madagaskarensis is known from more complete skeletal material, some of which show more basal archosauromorph characteristics.
References
- ↑ Irmis, R.B.; Parker, W.G.; Nesbitt, S.J.; Liu, J. (2007). "Early ornithischian dinosaurs: the Triassic record". Historical Biology 19 (1): 3–22. doi:10.1080/08912960600719988.
- ↑ Flynn, J.; Nesbitt, S.; Parrish, M.; Ranivoharimanana, L.; Wyss, A. (2008). "A new species of basal archosauromorph from the Late Triassic of Madagascar". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Suppl. 28: 78A.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Flynn, J.J.; Nesbitt, S.J.; Parrish, J.M.; Ranivoharimanana, L.; Wyss, A.R. (2010). "A new species of Azendohsaurus (Diapsida: Archosauromorpha) from the Triassic Isalo Group of southwestern Madagascar: cranium and mandible". Palaeontology 53 (3): 669–688. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00954.x.