Re: Phytodinosauria status

["Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

George wrote:

> On another track, I think Massospondylidae right now includes only
> Massospondylus. Lufengosaurus and Coloradisaurus are good plateosaurids, 
> not
> massospondylids; and Yunnanosaurus and Jingshanosaurus are good
> yunnanosaurids.


According to the analysis of Sereno (1999)*, the Massospondylidae includes 
two genera: _Massospondylus_ and _Yunnanosaurus_.

* see http://www.cmnh.org/fun/dinosaur-archive/1999Jun/msg00442.html - 
though _Thecodontosaurus_ and _Melanorosaurus_ are conspicuous by their 
absence from this analysis.

The sauropod-like teeth are no longer referred to _Yunnanosaurus_, removing 
a key character in support of the family Yunnanosauridae.

I have no idea what should happen to _Jingshanosaurus_ - it may go wherever 
_Yunnanosaurus_ goes.



Tim



------------------------------------------------------------

Timothy J. Williams

USDA/ARS Researcher
Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50014

Phone: 515 294 9233
Fax:   515 294 3163

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