Sanjuansaurus
Named after San Juan Province in Argentina where it was found, combined with Greek sauros (lizard); meaning "San Juan Province lizard".
Late Triassic stages
Sanjuansaurus is a genus of herrerasaurid dinosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian) Ischigualasto Formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin in northwestern Argentina.
Diagnosis
- Shelf-like, posterolaterally directed transverse processes on posterior cervical vertebrae
- Neural spines of sixth to eighth dorsal vertebrae bearing acute anterior and posterior processes
- Everted lateral margins of the glenoid of scapula and coracoid
- Short pubis (63% of femoral length)
- Pronounced, rugose scar on medial surface of femur at level of fourth trochanter
Species
Sanjuansaurus gordilloi Alcober & Martínez, 2010
Type species
Named for Raul Gordillo, the head fossil preparator and artist of the San Juan Museum.
- Holotype
- PVSJ 605 , División de Paleontología de Vertebrados del Museo de Ciencias Naturales y Universidad Nacional de San Juan
- Material
- Incomplete skeleton including left maxilla, partial axial column from axis to twelfth caudal vertebra, both scapulae, left ulna, ungual phalanx of left digit III, preacetabular portion of left ilium, pubis, femora and tibiae, fibula, astragalus and calcaneum, and left metatarsal II.
- Horizon
- Cancha de Bochas Member, Ischigualasto Formation, Carnian, Late Triassic , 237.0–227.3 million years ago
- Locality
- Herrera de la base, San Juan, Argentina
References
- Alcober, O. A.; Martínez, R. N. (2010). A new herrerasaurid (Dinosauria, Saurischia) from the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation of northwestern Argentina. Zookeys 63: 55-81. doi:10.3897/zookeys.63.550 alcober2010a
-
Paul, G. S. (2024). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (3rd ed.). Princeton University Press.
Source of the body length and mass estimates.
paul2024a