Eucoelophysis

Eucoelophysis
Temporal range: Late Triassic, 228–208 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: †Ornithischia (?)
Family: †Silesauridae
Clade: †Sulcimentisauria
Genus: †Eucoelophysis
Species:
†E. baldwini
Binomial name
†Eucoelophysis baldwini
Sullivan & Lucas, 1999

Eucoelophysis (meaning "true hollow form") is a genus of silesaurid dinosauriform from the Late Triassic (Norian) period Chinle Formation of New Mexico. It was assumed to be a coelophysid upon description,[1] but a study by Nesbitt et al. found that it was actually a close relative of Silesaurus,[2][3] which was independently supported by Ezcurra (2006), who found it to be the sister group to Dinosauria, and Silesaurus as the next most basal taxon.[4]

However, the relationships of Silesaurus are uncertain. Dzik found it to be a basal dinosauriform (the group of archosaurs from which the dinosaurs evolved), but did not rule out the possibility that it represents a primitive ornithischian.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sullivan&Lucas99 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference nesbittetal05 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Nesbittetal07 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ezcurra06 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference dzik03 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).