Redondasaurus
Encyclopedia
Redondasaurus is a 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. 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.
Redondasaurus was a carnivore
and measured from 10 to 12 meters in length, 1.5 meters of which made up the length of the head, and 1.5 meters in height. They could reach a weight of up to 26,000 lbs. It likely spent most of its time in lakes and rivers, and ambush
ed its prey, which consisted of fish, small reptiles, and possibly dinosaurs. There is little columnar
enamel in the teeth of Redondasaurus.
A recent phylogenetic analysis found that the genera Pseudopalatus
, Mystriosuchus
, Redondasaurus and Nicrosaurus
were pseudopalatines.
film Dinosaurs Alive!
.
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 phytosaur
Phytosaur
Phytosaurs are an extinct group of large semi-aquatic Late Triassic archosaurs. Phytosaurs belong to the family Phytosauridae and the order Phytosauria. They were long-snouted and heavily armoured, bearing a remarkable resemblance to modern crocodiles in size, appearance, and lifestyle, an example...
from the 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...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Translated, the name Redondasaurus means "Redonda lizard," referring to the Redonda Formation of east-central New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, USA. 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.
Redondasaurus was a carnivore
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...
and measured from 10 to 12 meters in length, 1.5 meters of which made up the length of the head, and 1.5 meters in height. They could reach a weight of up to 26,000 lbs. It likely spent most of its time in lakes and rivers, and ambush
Ambush
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
ed its prey, which consisted of fish, small reptiles, and possibly dinosaurs. There is little columnar
Columnar
In biology, columnar refers to the shape of epithelial cells that are taller than they are wide. Form follows function in biology, and columnar morphorphology hints at the functions of the cell. Columnar cells are important in absorption and movement of mucus...
enamel in the teeth of Redondasaurus.
A recent phylogenetic analysis found that the genera Pseudopalatus
Pseudopalatus
Pseudopalatus is an extinct genus of pseudopalatine phytosaur. It was assigned to Parasuchia in 2005. Specimens have been found from Arizona and New Mexico and are of Norian age...
, Mystriosuchus
Mystriosuchus
Mystriosuchus is an extinct genus of phytosaur that lived in the Late Triassic in Europe. It was first named by Eberhard Fraas in 1896, and includes two species: M. westphali and the type species, M. planirostris...
, Redondasaurus and Nicrosaurus
Nicrosaurus
Nicrosaurus is an extinct genus of phytosaur reptile. Although it looked and probably lived like a crocodile, it was not closely related to these creatures, instead being a good example of parallel evolution...
were pseudopalatines.
In popular culture
Redondasaurus was featured killing an Effigia in the IMAXIMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
film Dinosaurs Alive!
Dinosaurs Alive!
Dinosaurs Alive! is a 2007 IMAX documentary produced by Giant Screen Films about various dinosaurs that inhabited the Earth between 251 and 65 Ma...
.
Further reading
- The Great Rift Valleys of Pangea in Eastern North America By Peter M. LeTourneau, Paul Eric Olsen. Published 2003, Columbia University PressColumbia University PressColumbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. It is currently directed by James D. Jordan and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fields of literary and cultural studies, history, social work, sociology,...
. ISBN 023112676X - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology By Elsevier Science (Firm) Published 1998, Elsevier. v. 143. Original from the University of CaliforniaUniversity of CaliforniaThe University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
.
External links
- Redondasaurus at the Paleobiology DatabasePaleobiology Database' is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms.-History:The Paleobiology Database was founded in 2000. It has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Australian Research Council...