Welcome to dinosauria.ucoz.com!
Here you will find the information on dinosaurs and other reptiles! The registered user will get access to scientific publications (section "Files Archive")!
Main » 2008»July»7 » THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF MEGALOSAURUS BUCKLANDII (DINOSAURIA, THEROPODA) FROM THE MIDDLE JURASSIC OF OXFORDSHIRE, UK
THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF MEGALOSAURUS BUCKLANDII (DINOSAURIA, THEROPODA) FROM THE MIDDLE JURASSIC OF OXFORDSHIRE, UK
03:23
The lectotype of the Middle Jurassic theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus bucklandii, a right dentary, can be diagnosed on the basis of two unique characters: a longitudinal groove on the ventral part of the lateral surface of the dentary and a slit-like anterior Meckelian foramen. This taxon, the first dinosaur to be scientifically described, is therefore valid. Currently, however, no further material can be referred to this species with any certainty. Megalosaurus bucklandii occupies an uncertain systematic position but is not an abelisaurid or coelophysoid. Additionally, it does not possess the diagnostic dentary characters that are present in all known spinosauroids. Owing to this uncertainty, use of the family Megalosauridae should be discontinued until such time as its systematic position becomes clearer.
Photographs of OUMNH J.13505 (Megalosaurus bucklandii from the Taynton Limestone Formation of Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, UK.) in A, medial (with magnification of Meckelian foramina · 2), B, dorsal and C, lateral views; pdg, paradental groove. Scale bar represents 100 mm.
