Description of a multitaxic bone assemblage from the Upper Triassic Post Quarry of Texas (Dockum group), including a new small basal dinosauriform taxon

SARIGUL, VOLKAN; AGNOLIN, FEDERICO; CHATTERJEE, SANKAR

Historia Natural

Fundación Félix de Azara

Año: 2018

0326-1778

A bone assemblage composed of intermixed small cranial and postcranial fragments from the Post Quarry of Texas, USA, is described. The skeletal elements represent multiple individuals of different taxa, including a partial dorsal column assigned to Vancleavea campi and an incomplete dentary referred to a new genus and species of a small-sized basal dinosauriform. Ankylothecodont dental implantation of the dinosauriform dentary bears strong resemblance to silesaurids. A fragmentary archosauromorph braincase is another intriguing element of the assemblage; it displays a striking contrast of a derived otoccipital on a plesiomorphic basioccipital. Poor preservation prevents more conclusive taxonomic assignments for the rest of the skeletal elements. The observed attrition and entangling in this bone assemblage reflect the complexities of the Dockum land tetrapod taphonomy.