Open Paleo

Orosaurus

Huxley, 1867 OR-o-SAWR-us Nomen dubium

From Greek 'oros' (mountain) and 'sauros' (lizard); meaning 'mountain lizard'.

227.3–201.4 million years ago Norian–Rhaetian, Late Triassic
Late Triassic stages

Orosaurus is a dubious genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Late Triassic of South Africa, containing a single species, O. capensis.

Under dispute

Orosaurus capensis is a nomen dubium based on fragmentary Late Triassic material from southern Africa, historically synonymized with Euskelosaurus.

Species

Orosaurus capensis Huxley, 1867 Nomen dubium

Type species

Named for the Cape region of South Africa, where the holotype was discovered.

Holotype
NHMUK PV R 1626 , Natural History Museum
Material
Vertebrae
Horizon
lower Elliot Formation, Norian–Rhaetian, Late Triassic , 227.3–201.4 million years ago
Locality
Stormberg range of mountains, about thirty miles from the town of Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Synonyms of the genus

Name Type Reason
Orinosaurus junior objective Coined by Lydekker (1889) as a replacement name when Orosaurus was incorrectly believed to be preoccupied; Orosaurus retains priority.

References

  1. Huxley, T. H. (1867). On some Remains of large Dinosaurian Reptiles from the Stormberg Mountains, South Africa. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 23(1-2): 1-6. Geological Society of London. doi:10.1144/gsl.jgs.1867.023.01-02.07 huxley1867b
  2. Lydekker, R. (1889). Note on new and other dinosaurian remains. Geological Magazine 6: 352-356. doi:10.1017/S0016756800176587

    Addressed Orosaurus (Orinosaurus) capensis in a note on dinosaurian remains.

    lydekker1889c
  3. Van Heerden, J. (1979). The morphology and taxonomy of Euskelosaurus (Reptilia: Saurischia; Late Triassic) from South Africa. Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum 4: 21-84.

    Finds no diagnostic features in the type and refers it to Euskelosaurus as an indeterminate species.

    vanheerden1979a