Megapnosaurus

Previously known as Syntarsus (the name was preoccupied by a beetle), Megapnosaurus was very similar to Coelophysis to the point that some have proposed to be the same genus. However, Megapnosaurus lived in the Early Jurassic, while Coelophysis is from the Late Triassic. Remains of several individuals have been found together indicating that it probably lived in pack. Two species have been described, M. rhodesiensis from South Africa and M. kayentakatae from Arizona. The latter had a pair of crests on its snout. Megapnosaurus remains have also been reported from the Lower Lufeng Formation of China.

I

Name

Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis

Authority

(Raath, 1969)

Meaning of generic name

"Big dead lizard".

Meaning of specific name

from Rhodesia.

Size

Body length:3 m, Skull length: ?

Remains

Holotype (QG/1): a partial skeleton.

Referred materials: remains of at least 30 individuals.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Forest Sandstone Formation of Zimbabwe. Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian). Also from the Upper Elliot Formation of S. Africa. Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)

Locality: Kwengula stream, Southcote Farm, Zimbabwe.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Theropoda Coelophysoidea Coelophysidae

Further Reading

M. A. Raath. 1969. A new coelurosaurian dinosaur from the Forest Sandstone of Rhodesia. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 4(28):1-254.

Synonyms

Syntarsus rhodesiensis (Raath, 1969); Coelophysis rhodesiensis (Raath, 1969)

II

Name

Megapnosaurus kayentakatae

Authority

(Rowe, 1989)

Meaning of specific name

To honor Dr Kathleen Smith ("Kayenta Kay"), the discoverer of the fossil.

Size

Body length:3 m, Skull length: ?

[Why ? on skull length? The skull is there at least in part from MNA V2623]

Remains

Holotype (MNA V2623): skull and partial postcranial skeleton.

Referred materials: remains of at least 16 individuals.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Kayenta Formation. Early Jurassic (Sinemurian-Plienbaschian)

Locality: Rock Head, Willow Springs, Arizona, US.

Further Reading

T. Rowe. 1989. A new species of the theropod dinosaur Syntarsus from the Early Jurassic Kayenta Formation of Arizona. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 9(2):125-136.

Synonyms

Syntarsus kayentakatae Rowe, 1989; Coelophysis kayentakatae (Rowe, 1898)

Creationist remark: "Megapnosaurus was very similar to Coelophysis to the point that some have proposed to be the same genus. However, Megapnosaurus lived in the Early Jurassic, while Coelophysis is from the Late Triassic." = Evolutionists want to keep Coelophysis separate from "early" Jurassic. And as obviously Megapnosaurus separate from "late" Triassic.