Open AccessA new basal sauropodiform from S outh A frica and the phylogenetic relationships of basal sauropodomorphs
Author(s) -
Otero Alejandro,
Krupandan Emil,
Pol Diego,
Chinsamy Anusuya,
Choiniere Jonah
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
zoological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1096-3642
pISSN - 0024-4082
DOI - 10.1111/zoj.12247
Subject(s) - autapomorphy , biology , sauropoda , postcrania , basal (medicine) , macroevolution , taxon , evolutionary biology , phylogenetic tree , paleontology , cretaceous , gene , insulin , biochemistry , endocrinology
We present a new medium‐sized basal sauropodomorph, Sefapanosaurus zastronensis gen. et sp. nov. , from the U pper T riassic− L ower J urassic E lliot F ormation of S outh A frica. It is represented by parts of the postcranial skeleton of at least four individuals, including: cervical, dorsal, sacral and caudal vertebrae, most of the forelimb, and part of the hindlimb. S efapanosaurus bears several autapomorphies of the astragalus, and referred material also shows autapomorphic features. The inclusion of S efapanosaurus in a phylogenetic analysis places it within the group of sauropodomorphs more closely related to sauropods than to M assospondylus (i.e. S auropodiformes), increasing the currently known diversity of the so‐called ‘transitional forms’ leading to S auropoda. Character optimization revealed the presence of several features that are common for taxa placed within the transitional branches basal to S auropoda. S efapanosaurus , together with other transitional sauropodomorphs reported during the last decade, highlights the importance of G ondwanan taxa for understanding the palaeobiodiversity, global distribution, and macroevolutionary changes in the group related to the rise of sauropods. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London