An illustrated atlas of the phytosaur (Archosauria: Parasuchidae) postcrania from the Upper Triassic Snyder quarry (Petrified Forest Formation, Chinle Group)
- 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: The Upper Triassic Snyder quarry of north-central New Mexico yields the remains of numerous individuals of the phytosaur Pseudopalatus buceros, as well as other vertebrates. The majority of the phytosaurian skeletal elements in the quarry are associated with skulls, so the phytosaur postcrania are clearly those of P. buceros. We describe the postcranial material of
P. buceros, with accompanying illustrations and metrics. In examining this suite of postcranial
material, it is apparent that sexual dimorphism in P. buceros is restricted solely to the skull, as none of the postcrania differ substantially. There is no obvious quantitative relationship between length of any given appendicular element and its midshaft width, though it appears that
the midshaft width may increase more than the length, leading to a more robust bone in adults.
This thickening of the midshaft could aid in supporting the weight of an adult animal.
Keywords: Parasuchidae, archosaur, postcrania, dimorphism, phytosaur
An illustrated atlas of the phytosaur (Archosauria: Parasuchidae) postcrania from the Upper Triassic Snyder quarry (Petrified Forest Formation, Chinle Group)
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Zeigler, K.E., Heckert, A.B., and Lucas, S.G., (2003) An illustrated atlas of the phytosaur (Archosauria: Parasuchidae) postcrania from the Upper Triassic Snyder quarry (Petrified Forest Formation, Chinle Group): New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 24 (Paleontology and Geology of the Upper Triassic (Revueltian) Snyder Quarry, New Mexico) , p. 89-103. (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: 2003