Open Paleo

Elaphrosaurus

Janensch, 1920 el-AH-froh-SOR-uhs /ɛˌlɑːfroʊˈsɔːrəs/

From Greek elaphros (ελαφρός), 'light' or 'nimble', + Greek sauros, 'lizard'; means 'nimble lizard' or 'light-bodied lizard', referring to its lightly built frame

154.8–149.2 million years ago Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic
Late Jurassic stages

Elaphrosaurus is a genus of ceratosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 155 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Period in what is now Tanzania in Africa. Elaphrosaurus was a medium-sized but lightly built member of the group that could grow up to 6.2 m (20 ft) long. Morphologically, this dinosaur is significant in two ways. Firstly, it has a relatively long body but is very shallow-chested for a theropod of its size. Secondly, it has very short hindlimbs in comparison with its body. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this genus is likely a ceratosaur. Earlier suggestions that it is a late surviving coelophysoid have been examined but generally dismissed. Elaphrosaurus is currently believed to be a very close relative of Limusaurus, an unusual beaked ceratosaurian which may have been either herbivorous or omnivorous.

Diagnosis

  1. Teeth small, mostly 20–30 mm length, rarely exceeding 55 mm even with complete pulp wall preservation
  2. Predominant tooth type strongly recurved posteriorly and fairly broad; posterior margin sharply cutting and finely serrated; anterior margin broadly rounded
  3. Tooth apex shows wear on anterior face and lateral sides
  4. Anterior cutting edge, when preserved, restricted to upper portion of crown only, deflecting lingually before disappearing downward

Species

Elaphrosaurus bambergi Janensch, 1920

Type species

Named for industrialist Paul Bamberg, in recognition of financial support of the Tendaguru expeditions that recovered the holotype.

Holotype
HMN Gr.S. 38-44 , Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin
Material
Partial skeleton: 7 cervical, 10 trunk, 5 sacral, 20 caudal vertebrae; pelvis (ilium, ischia, pubis); hind limb (femur 53 cm, tibia 61 cm, fibula, astragalus, metatarsus); humerus (26 cm); ~150 teeth
Horizon
Middle Dinosaur Member, Tendaguru Formation, Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic , 154.8–149.2 million years ago
Locality
Tendaguru Quarry dd, Lindi, Tanzania

References

  1. Janensch, W. (1920). Ueber Elaphrosaurus bambergi und die Megalosaurier aus den Tendaguru-Schichten Deutsch-Ostafrikas [On Elaphrosaurus bambergi and the megalosaurs of the Tendaguru Formation of German East Africa]. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1920: 225-235. janensch1920a
  2. Bussert, R.; Heinrich, W. D.; Aberhan, M. (2009). The Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, southern Tanzania): definition, palaeoenvironments, and sequence stratigraphy. Fossil Record 12(2): 141-174. doi:10.5194/fr-12-141-2009

    Renames the Saurian Beds as formal members of the Tendaguru Formation, listing this taxon from the Middle Dinosaur Member.

    bussert2009a
  3. Rauhut, O. M.; Hübner, T.; Lanser, K. (2016). A new megalosaurid theropod dinosaur from the late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of north-western Germany: Implications for theropod evolution and faunal turnover in the Jurassic. Palaeontologia Electronica 19(2): 26A. Coquina Press. doi:10.26879/654

    Gives the type locality as German Tendaguru Expedition quarry dd and restates the horizon.

    rauhut2016a