Guaibasaurus candelariensis (Dinosauria, Saurischia) and the early origin of avian-like resting posture

FEDERICO AGNOLIN; AGUSTIN MARTINELLI

ALCHERINGA

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012 vol. 36 p. 263 - 267

0311-5518

A specimen of the basal saurisquian Guaibasaurus candelariensis Bonaparte, Ferigolo and Ribeiro (UFRGS-PV-0725-T) from the Faxinal do Soturno locality, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (Caturrita Formation; Late Triassic) lacks any sign of post-mortem transport and burial deformation, and exhibits features (flexed forelimbs, folded hindlimbs under the body and curved neck) that indicate a typical avian-like resting position. The presence in Guaibasaurus of an avian-like resting posture and related physiological implications would extend this unique trait, previously considered restricted to derived maniraptoran theropods, to the base of the Theropoda (or even Saurischia) clade.