Welcome to Adeopapposaurus
Name Definition
Far eating lizard
Name Given By
Ricardo N. Martínez in 2009
Location
Cañón del Colorado Formation in San Juan Province, Argentina
Classification
Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Massopoda, Massospondylidae
Size
around 1 meter tall (3.2 ft), around 3 meters long (9.8 ft), 68 kg (150 lbs)
Temporal Range
Hettangian - Pliensbachian of the Early Jurassic, approximately 200 - 183 million years ago
Ecological niche
small browsing herbivore
Species/Sub Species
A. mognai
Diet
the form of the upper and lower jaws suggest that Adeopapposaurus had a keratinous beak which it could have used to snip off foliage from plants like cycads and ferns
Introduction
Adeopapposaurus is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Early Jurassic. Adeopapposaurus means “far eating lizard” which is in reference to its long neck, a common feature in all sauropodomorphs and sauropods. The species name mognai is referring to the Mogna locality in San Juan where it was found. Only four fragmentary skeletons and two partial skulls have been discovered of Adeopapposaurus.
Originally thought to be a South American variant of Massospondylus (Massospondylus lives in South Africa), Adeopapposaurus is now considered its own valid genus and was declared so in 2009, although it is still classified in the family Massospondylidae and is considered a close relative to Massospondylus. The holotype specimen includes (not all of the fossils discovered) consists of a skull and one mostly complete skeleton that is just past the hips. Adeopapposaurus was unusual among sauropodomorphs, as the form of the bones at its upper and lower jaws suggest that it may have possessed a keratinous beak in life, something that is absent in most sauropodomorphs. If so, then Adeopapposaurus would have been able to use its beak to crop foliage from plants present in its ecosystem.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeopapposaurus
- http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/a/adeopapposaurus.html
- https://factslegend.org/10-interesting-adeopapposaurus-facts/
