Chromogisaurus
| Chromogisaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic, 230 Ma | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Family: | †Guaibasauridae |
| Genus: | †Chromogisaurus Ezcurra, 2010 |
| Species: | †C. novasi |
| Binomial name | |
| Chromogisaurus novasi Ezcurra, 2010 | |
Chromogisaurus is a sauropodomorph which existed in Argentina during the late Triassic period. It was a herbivore about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in length, and was optionally quadrupedal.[1]
Chromogisaurus was first named by Martín Daniel Ezcurra in 2010, and the type species is Chromogisaurus novasi. 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, was 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, with elements of the front and hind limbs, as well as the pelvis and two caudal vertebrae.[1]
A cladistic analysis by Ezcurra indicated that Chromogisaurus was a member of a clade basal sauropodomorphs, the Guaibasauridae, together with Guaibasaurus, the disputed Agnosphitys, Panphagia and Saturnalia. Within Guaibasauridae, it forms a smaller clade with its sister taxon Saturnalia, the Saturnaliinae.[1]