Geranosaurus
Temporal range: Early Jurassic, ~
Holotype jaw
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: †Ornithischia
Family: †Heterodontosauridae
Genus: †Geranosaurus
Broom, 1911
Type species
†Geranosaurus atavus
Broom, 1911

Geranosaurus (meaning "crane reptile") is a genus of ornithischian dinosaur from the Early Jurassic. It is known only from crushed fragments of the skull, a single jaw bone with nine tooth stubs and limb elements discovered in the Clarens Formation, South Africa in 1871. Because of the limited remains, it is considered a nomen dubium. It is classified as an ornithischian based on the jaw, probably a heterodontosaurid.[1] It was around 0.6 metres (2.0 ft) tall and around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) long when fully grown.[1][2]

The type species, G. atavus, was described by Robert Broom in 1911.[2] The genus name is derived from Greek geranos, "crane", a reference to the crane-like hind-limb. The specific name means "ancestor" in Latin. The limb elements have inventory number SAM 1871.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 P. C. Sereno. 2012. Taxonomy, morphology, masticatory function and phylogeny of heterodontosaurid dinosaurs. Zookeys 226:1-225
  2. 1 2 3 R. Broom, 1911, "On the dinosaurs of the Stormberg, South Africa", Annals of the South African Museum 7(4): 291-308


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