The osteology of Magnosaurus nethercombensis (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of the United Kingdom and a re-examination of the oldest records of tetanurans

• Published in: Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
• Main Author: Benson, R. B. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2010
• Subjects: 04 - Palaeobiology; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/1341/; http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/1341/1/Benson_2010_Magnosaurus.pdf; http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=jour~content=a919837079

Magnosaurus nethercombensis from the Lower Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of Dorset, UK is a valid species, possessing a single autapomor phy: the presence of anteroposteriorly elongate foramina, inclined anterodorsally and located ventrally on the lateral surface of the dentary. It is the oldest known definite tetanuran dinosaur and shows two tetanuran features: a reduced ischial peduncle of the ilium and the presence of a marked femoral extensor groove. Other records of putative early tetanurans are reviewed: ‘Zanclodon cambrensis’ from the Rhaetian of Wales; remains from the Norian–Hettangian of Switzerland; Shuvosaurus and Protoavis from the Norian of Texas; Eshanosaurus from the Hettangian of China; theropod remains originally included in the syntype series of Scelidosaurus from the Hettangian–Sinemurian of England; a fragmentary skeleton from the Sinemurian of Italy; Cryolophosaurus from the Sinemurian–Pliensbachian of Antarctica; the partial skeleton of a small theropod from the Toarcian of Morocco; and the lost syntype material of ‘Streptospondylus cuvieri’ from the Toarcian of Whitby. None of these records can be confidently considered to be the earliest tetanuran record. An early Middle Jurassic age for the earliest-known tetanuran is more consistent with a restricted content of Ceratosauria, comprising Ceratosaurus, Elaphrosaurus, and abelisauroids, than with a wider content including coelophysoids, due to reduction in the length of phylogenetic ghost lineages.