Trilophosaurus (Archosauromorpha: Trilophosauridai) Postcrania from the Upper Triassic Blue Mesa Member of the Petrified Forest Formation (Carnian: Adamanian), Arizona, USA
- ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Andrew B. Heckert Ph.D., Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- Appalachian State University (ASU )
- Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Abstract: Trilophosaurus is a genus of Late Triassic archosauromorph known exclusively from the American Southwest. The defining characteristic of the taxon is its transversely arranged, tricuspid teeth. Here, we document various Trilophosaurus postcrania from the Krzyzanowski bonebed, NMMNH locality 3764, a multi-taxic bonebed located in the Blue Hills of Apache County, Arizona. These postcrania represent the first Trilophosaurus remains identified based solely on postcrania, in the absence of cranial or dental material. The Trilophosaurus specimens collected from NMMNH locality 3764 consist of two cervical vertebrae, two dorsal vertebrae, an incomplete humerus, a right ulna, a nearly complete right radius, an articulated left ilium and ischium, an isolated left ilium, three femora, an incomplete left tibia and an isolated right astragalus. The most prominent diagnostic character uniting the Krzyzanowski bonebed specimens and Trilophosaurus is the large, extensive internal tro- chanter on the femur and the overall morphology of the astragalus. We tentatively identify the Krzyzanowski specimens as pertaining to Trilophosaurus cf. T. jacobsi based on various shared features of the cervical vertebrae, humeri and ulnae. The presence of Trilophosaurus cf. T. jacobsi within the lowermost Blue Mesa Member of the Petrified Forest Formation is consistent with the established biostratigraphic range of T. jacobsi.
Trilophosaurus (Archosauromorpha: Trilophosauridai) Postcrania from the Upper Triassic Blue Mesa Member of the Petrified Forest Formation (Carnian: Adamanian), Arizona, USA
PDF (Portable Document Format)
5412 KB
Created on 4/3/2014
Views: 1504
Additional Information
- Publication
- Spielmann, J.A., Lucas, S.G., Heckert, A.B., and Krzyzanowski, S.E. (2013) Trilophosaurus (Archosauromorpha: Trilophosauridai) Postcrania from the Upper Triassic Blue Mesa Member of the Petrified Forest Formation (Carnian: Adamanian), Arizona, USA. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin 61: 567-572 (ISSN: 1524-4156). Archived in NC DOCKS with permission of the editor. The version of record is available at: http://econtent.unm.edu
- Language: English
- Date: 2013