Redondasaurus

Taxobox
name = "Redondasaurus"
fossil_range = Late Triassic


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
unranked_ordo = Archosauria
ordo = Phytosauria
familia = Phytosauridae
genus = "Redondasaurus"
genus_authority = Hunt & Lucas, 1993
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = * "R. gregorii"

"Redondasaurus" is an extinct genus of phytosaur from the Late Triassic of North America. Translated, the name "Redondasaurus" means "Redonda lizard," referring to the Redonda Formation of east-central New Mexico, USA. [cite web|url=http://www.dinosauria.com/dml/names/phyto.htm#R|title=Phytosauria Translation and Pronunciaton Guide|last=Creisler|first=Ben|date=1996-01-01|work=Dinosauria.com|accessdate=2008-04-25] It was first named by Hunt & Lucas in 1993, and contains one species, "R. gregorii". It is the youngest and most evolutionarily-advanced of the phytosaurs. ["Late Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic Circum-Pacific Events and their Global Correlation" (World and Regional Geology); page 219. By J. M. Dickins, Yang Zunyi, Yin Hongfu, and S. G. Lucas. Published 1997, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521471753 Retrieved on 2008-04-24]

"Redondasaurus" was a carnivore and measured from 30 to 40 feet in length, 5 feet of which made up the length of the head, and 5 feet in height.cite web|url=http://www.dinosalive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=34|title=Dinos Alive official website's page on "Redondasaurus"|publisher=www.dinosalive.com |accessdate=2008-04-24] They could reach a weight of up to 26,000 lbs. It likely spent most of its time in lakes and rivers, and ambushed its prey, which consisted of fish, small reptiles, and possibly dinosaurs. There is little columnar enamel in the teeth of "Redondasaurus". [cite web |url=http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2007AM/finalprogram/abstract_127709.htm |title=Tooth Enamel Microstructure of Selected Archosaurs Reptilia: Archosauria from the Upper Triassic Chinle Group, Western USA: Taxonomic and Evolutionary Significance |publisher=Andrew B. Heckert and Jessica Camp; Dept. of Geology, Appalachian State University |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2008-07-13]

In Popular Culture

"Redondasaurus" was featured in the IMAX film "Dinosaurs Alive!".

References

Further reading

* "The Great Rift Valleys of Pangea in Eastern North America" By Peter M. LeTourneau, Paul Eric Olsen. Published 2003, Columbia University Press. ISBN 023112676X
* "Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology" By Elsevier Science (Firm) Published 1998, Elsevier. v. 143. Original from the University of California.

External links

* [http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=110224 "Redondasaurus"] at the Paleobiology Database