The taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UK
The lectotype of the Middle Jurassic theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus bucklandii, a right dentary, can be diagnosed on the basis of two unique characters: a longitudinal groove on the ventral part of the lateral surface of the dentary and a slit-like anterior Meckelian foramen. This taxon, the first d...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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2008
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| _version_ | 1826263798346940416 |
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| author | Benson, R Barrett, P Powell, H Norman, D |
| author_facet | Benson, R Barrett, P Powell, H Norman, D |
| author_sort | Benson, R |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The lectotype of the Middle Jurassic theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus bucklandii, a right dentary, can be diagnosed on the basis of two unique characters: a longitudinal groove on the ventral part of the lateral surface of the dentary and a slit-like anterior Meckelian foramen. This taxon, the first dinosaur to be scientifically described, is therefore valid. Currently, however, no further material can be referred to this species with any certainty. Megalosaurus bucklandii occupies an uncertain systematic position but is not an abelisaurid or coelophysoid. Additionally, it does not possess the diagnostic dentary characters that are present in all known spinosauroids. Owing to this uncertainty, use of the family Megalosauridae should be discontinued until such time as its systematic position becomes clearer. © The Palaeontological Association, 2008. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:57:35Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:2629be2e-bffa-4e47-9b9b-387fc104a48c |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:57:35Z |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:2629be2e-bffa-4e47-9b9b-387fc104a48c2022-03-26T11:59:22ZThe taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UKJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:2629be2e-bffa-4e47-9b9b-387fc104a48cEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2008Benson, RBarrett, PPowell, HNorman, DThe lectotype of the Middle Jurassic theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus bucklandii, a right dentary, can be diagnosed on the basis of two unique characters: a longitudinal groove on the ventral part of the lateral surface of the dentary and a slit-like anterior Meckelian foramen. This taxon, the first dinosaur to be scientifically described, is therefore valid. Currently, however, no further material can be referred to this species with any certainty. Megalosaurus bucklandii occupies an uncertain systematic position but is not an abelisaurid or coelophysoid. Additionally, it does not possess the diagnostic dentary characters that are present in all known spinosauroids. Owing to this uncertainty, use of the family Megalosauridae should be discontinued until such time as its systematic position becomes clearer. © The Palaeontological Association, 2008. |
| spellingShingle | Benson, R Barrett, P Powell, H Norman, D The taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UK |
| title | The taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UK |
| title_full | The taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UK |
| title_fullStr | The taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | The taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UK |
| title_short | The taxonomic status of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Oxfordshire, UK |
| title_sort | taxonomic status of megalosaurus bucklandii dinosauria theropoda from the middle jurassic of oxfordshire uk |
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