Blikanasaurus
Encyclopedia
Blikanasaurus was a genus
of sauropodomorph dinosaur
found in Lower Elliot Formation
rocks from the Late Triassic
in what is now South Africa
's Cape Province
. Known from a left lower limb only, it has been variously classified as a prosauropod or basal sauropod. The type species
, Blikanasaurus cromptoni, was first described by Galton and van Heerden in 1985.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of sauropodomorph dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
found in Lower Elliot Formation
Elliot Formation
The Elliot Formation is a geological formation dating to roughly 210 to 190 million years ago and covering the Norian to Sinemurian stages. The Elliot Formation is found in South Africa and Lesotho and is a member of the Stormberg Group. It consists mainly of limestone, sandstone, and mudstone...
rocks from the Late Triassic
Triassic
The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
in what is now South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
. Known from a left lower limb only, it has been variously classified as a prosauropod or basal sauropod. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, Blikanasaurus cromptoni, was first described by Galton and van Heerden in 1985.
External links
- Blikanasaurus in the Dinosaur Encyclopedia, at DinoRuss' Lair