A new specimen of Guaibasaurus candelariensis (basal Saurischia) from the Late Triassic Caturrita Formation of southern Brazil

GONZALO BREA; JOSE BONAPARTE; CESAR SCHULTZ; AGUSTIN MARTINELLI

Congreso; II Congresso Latino-Americano de Paleontologia de Vertebrados; 2005

Museu Nacional

An articulated skeleton of the species Guaibasauruscandelariensis missing the skull and neck was recently collected fromthe Caturrita Fonnation near Faxinal de Sotumo, RS, Brazil, from the samestratigraphic level of the type specimen. A brief description of the wholespecimen is given and comparisons are made with other basal theropodsand prosauropods. The similarities observed with Saturnalia tupiniquimsuggest that they correspond to the same family: Guaibasauridae.Significant affinities are also seen with Coelophysis-Syntarsus inthe hind limbs (except in the foot), in the morphology of dorsal vertebrae,and the forelimbs (including the hand). The pelvis of Guaibasaurus isprimitive, of the early prosauropod type, but the acetabulum is closed orvery s lightly open. Comparisons with herrerasaurids show strongdifferences in the vertebrae, pelvic and pectoral girdles.