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On the anatomy and relationships ofEfraasia diagnostica (Huene) n. gen., a prosauropod dinosaur (Reptilia: Saurischia) from the Upper Triassic of Germany

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Abstract

Palaeosaurus (?) diagnosticus Huene from the Stubensandstone (Upper Triassic, Norian) of Nordwürttemberg, Germany is made the type species of a new genus of prosauropod dinosaurEfraasia, which is referred to the family Anchisauridae. The anatomy ofEfraasia diagnostica is conservative and it was an ideal ancestor for the later and more specializedAnchisaurus polyzelus of North America. The slenderness of the manus and pes ofEfraasia andAnchisaurus is matched amongst prosauropods only by the feet ofGyposaurus capensis andThecodontosaurus antiquus. Staurikosaurus pricei Colbert from the Upper Triassic of Brazil is probably a very primitive theropod dinosaur.

Zusammenfassung

Palaeosaurus (?) diagnosticus Huene aus dem Stubensandstein (Obere Trias, Norium) von Nordwürttemberg wird zur Typusart der neuen Prosauropoden-GattungEfraasia erhoben, die der Familie Anchisauridae zugeordnet wird. Die Anatomie vonEfraasia diagnostica zeigt altertümliche Züge und weist die Art als idealen Vorfahren des jüngeren und stärker spezialisiertenAnchisaurus polyzelus von Nordamerika aus. Der schwache Knochenbau von Hand und Fuß vonEfraasia läßt sich unter den Prosauropoden nur mit dem Fußskelett vonGyposaurus capensis undThecodontosaurus antiquus vergleichen.Staurikosaurus pricei Colbert aus der Obertrias Brasiliens ist wahrscheinlich ein sehr primitiver Theropode.

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Galton, P.M. On the anatomy and relationships ofEfraasia diagnostica (Huene) n. gen., a prosauropod dinosaur (Reptilia: Saurischia) from the Upper Triassic of Germany. Paläontol. Z. 47, 229–255 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02985709

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