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.