Monday 2 December 2013

Glacialisaurus hammeri

Only known from a partial hind limb and foot, this prosauropod from of Antarctica shows that primitive forms such as Glacialisaurus lived alongside more derived sauropodomorphs in the Early Jurassic. A phylogenetic analysis shows it is most closely related to the Chinese Lufengosaurus.

Name
Glacialisaurus hammeri
Authority
Smith & Pol, 2007
Meaning of generic name
From the Latin glacialis, meaning “icy” or “frozen”, in reference to the geographic location of the type species.
Meaning of specific name
In honor of Dr. William R. Hammer
Remains
Holotype (FMNH PR1823): a partial right astragalus, medial and lateral distal tarsals, and partial right metatarsus preserved in articulation with each other.

Referred materials: FMNH PR1822, a distal left femur
Age and Distribution
Horizon: Hanson Formation. Lower Jurassic (Sinem.-Plienb.).

Locality: Mt. Kirkpatrick, Beardmore Glacier region, Central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica.
Classification
Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Prosauropoda Massospondylidae
Further Reading
N. D. Smith and D. Pol. 2007. Anatomy of a basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Hanson Formation of Antarctica. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52(4):657-674.

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