Podokesaurus
Encyclopedia
Podokesaurus was a small carnivorous
dinosaur
of the Early Jurassic
Period (originally thought to be Late Triassic
), and as such is one of the earliest known dinosaurs to inhabit the eastern United States
http://paleo.amnh.org/fossil/show.html?cat_num=FR%202976. The small, bipedal carnivore was about 90 cm (3 ft) long and 0.3 m (1 ft) tall. It has been estimated that it could run at 14 – 19 km/h (9 - 12 mph), hence the name. Some researchers believe that it is related to, or identical with the Triassic
genus Coelophysis
http://paleo.amnh.org/fossil/class.html?jump=SaurischiaC.
The only fossil
of the type species
Podokesaurus holyokensis, the full species name, was recovered in 1910 by Mount Holyoke College
professor of geology
and geography
, Mignon Talbot
. It consisted of a split boulder found by Talbot and her sister Elly on a hillock near to the college.http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~dalbino/books/lester/dinosaur.html The slab and counterslab showed a poorly preserved, incomplete skeleton
. Most of the skull is lacking. Talbot made pictures of the stones and sought advise from Richard Swann Lull, an authoritative dinosaur expert. It was formally described in June 1911 by Talbot herself, who thereby became the first woman to name a dinosaur. The generic name is derived from Greek podokes, "swift-footed", an epitheton often used by Homer
in the Ilias
to describe the hero Achilles
. The specific name refers to Holyoke.
The hillock consists of material deposited by ice and having its probable origin in the Portland Formation
. In 1958 a second specimen, BSNH 13656, was referred to the species by Edwin Harris Colbert
. It consists of two lower hind limbs and indicates an individual about three times longer. The type specimen might have been a juvenile.
Because of the poor preservation it is hard to find any difference between the remains of Podokesaurus and those of the much better known Coelophysis
. From this Colbert concluded in 1964 that Podokesaurus was not a distinct genus
but in fact a species
of Coelophysis
: Coelophysis holyokensis. If so, it would by implication be a member of the Coelophysidae
. However, the name Podokesaurus is still commonly used to refer to the material, while being assigned to a more general Coelophysoidea
, as the identity is hard to prove and Coelophysis dates from a different period. The matter is complicated because all the original fossil material of Podokesaurus holyokensis was destroyed in a fire
in the early twenties, and only casts remain in the Division of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History
in New York.
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
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...
of the Early Jurassic
Early Jurassic
The Early Jurassic epoch is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic period...
Period (originally thought to be Late Triassic
Late Triassic
The Late Triassic is in the geologic timescale the third and final of three epochs of the Triassic period. The corresponding series is known as the Upper Triassic. In the past it was sometimes called the Keuper, after a German lithostratigraphic group that has a roughly corresponding age...
), and as such is one of the earliest known dinosaurs to inhabit the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
http://paleo.amnh.org/fossil/show.html?cat_num=FR%202976. The small, bipedal carnivore was about 90 cm (3 ft) long and 0.3 m (1 ft) tall. It has been estimated that it could run at 14 – 19 km/h (9 - 12 mph), hence the name. Some researchers believe that it is related to, or identical with the 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...
genus Coelophysis
Coelophysis
Coelophysis , meaning "hollow form" in reference to its hollow bones , is one of the earliest known genera of dinosaur...
http://paleo.amnh.org/fossil/class.html?jump=SaurischiaC.
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
of 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...
Podokesaurus holyokensis, the full species name, was recovered in 1910 by Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
professor of geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, Mignon Talbot
Mignon Talbot
Mignon Talbot Mignon Talbot Mignon Talbot (August 16, 1869 – July 18, 1950 was an American paleontologist who in 1911 recovered the only fossils of the dinosaur, Podokesaurus holyokensis....
. It consisted of a split boulder found by Talbot and her sister Elly on a hillock near to the college.http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~dalbino/books/lester/dinosaur.html The slab and counterslab showed a poorly preserved, incomplete skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
. Most of the skull is lacking. Talbot made pictures of the stones and sought advise from Richard Swann Lull, an authoritative dinosaur expert. It was formally described in June 1911 by Talbot herself, who thereby became the first woman to name a dinosaur. The generic name is derived from Greek podokes, "swift-footed", an epitheton often used by Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
in the Ilias
ILIAS
ILIAS is an open source web-based learning management system . It supports learning content management and tools for collaboration, communication, evaluation and assessment...
to describe the hero Achilles
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad.Plato named Achilles the handsomest of the heroes assembled against Troy....
. The specific name refers to Holyoke.
The hillock consists of material deposited by ice and having its probable origin in the Portland Formation
Portland Formation
The Portland Formation is a geological formation in the northeastern United States. It dates back to the Early Jurassic.-Vertebrate fauna:Dinosaur coprolites located in Massachusetts, USA. Ornithischian tracks located in Massachusetts and Connecticut, USA. Theropod tracks located in Massachusetts...
. In 1958 a second specimen, BSNH 13656, was referred to the species by Edwin Harris Colbert
Edwin Harris Colbert
Edwin Harris Colbert was a distinguished American vertebrate paleontologist and prolific researcher and author. He received his A.B. from the University of Nebraska, then his Masters and Ph.D. from Columbia University, finishing in 1935.Born in Clarinda, Iowa, he grew up in Maryville, Missouri...
. It consists of two lower hind limbs and indicates an individual about three times longer. The type specimen might have been a juvenile.
Because of the poor preservation it is hard to find any difference between the remains of Podokesaurus and those of the much better known Coelophysis
Coelophysis
Coelophysis , meaning "hollow form" in reference to its hollow bones , is one of the earliest known genera of dinosaur...
. From this Colbert concluded in 1964 that Podokesaurus was not a distinct genus
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...
but in fact a species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Coelophysis
Coelophysis
Coelophysis , meaning "hollow form" in reference to its hollow bones , is one of the earliest known genera of dinosaur...
: Coelophysis holyokensis. If so, it would by implication be a member of the Coelophysidae
Coelophysidae
The Coelophysidae are a family of primitive carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. Most species were relatively small in size. The family flourished in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods....
. However, the name Podokesaurus is still commonly used to refer to the material, while being assigned to a more general Coelophysoidea
Coelophysoidea
Coelophysoids were common dinosaurs of the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods. They were widespread geographically, probably living on all continents. Coelophysoids were all slender, carnivorous forms with a superficial similarity to the coelurosaurs, with which they were formerly...
, as the identity is hard to prove and Coelophysis dates from a different period. The matter is complicated because all the original fossil material of Podokesaurus holyokensis was destroyed in a fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
in the early twenties, and only casts remain in the Division of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in New York.