The Early Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs Zizhongosaurus, Barapasaurus, Tazoudasaurus, and Vulcanodon may form a natural group of basal sauropods called the Vulcanodontidae. Basal vulcanodonts include some of the earliest known examples of sauropods. The family-level name Vulcanodontidae was erected by M.R. Cooper in 1984.[1] In 1995 Hunt et al. published the opinion that the family is synonymous with the Barapasauridae.[2] One of the key morphological features specific to the family is an unusually narrow sacrum.
Vulcanodontidae | |
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Models of Vulcanodon in Poland | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
Clade: | †Sauropoda |
Clade: | †Gravisauria |
Family: | †Vulcanodontidae Cooper, 1984 |
Genera | |
Synonyms | |
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