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Thadeosaurus

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Thadeosaurus
Temporal range:Changhsingian-Induan253.8–249.7Ma
Restoration
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Diapsida
Clade: Neodiapsida
Family: Younginidae
Genus: Thadeosaurus
Carroll 1981
Type species
Thadeosaurus colcanapi

Thadeosaurusis anextinctgenusofdiapsidreptilebelonging to the familyYounginidae.Fossils have been found in theLower Sakamena Formation(Sakamena Group) of theMorondava Basin,Madagascarin1981,and date to the latePermianto the earlyTriassicperiod.[1]

Description

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Size comparison

Thadeosauruswas alizard-like animal, with a remarkably long tail that comprised about two thirds of the animal's total length of 60 centimetres (24 in). It also had long toes, especially on the hind legs, which would have given it a powerful stride, since the toes would still touch the ground while the foot was being raised. Combined with a strongbreast boneto increase the strength in the forelimbs, this means thatThadeosauruswas probably a good runner.[2]

Below is acladogramfrom Reiszet al.(2011) showing thephylogeneticposition ofThadeosaurusamong other early diapsids:[3]

References

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  1. ^Carroll, R. L.(1981). "Plesiosaur ancestors from the Upper Permian of Madagascar".Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.B.293(1066): 315–383.Bibcode:1981RSPTB.293..315C.doi:10.1098/rstb.1981.0079.
  2. ^Palmer, D., ed. (1999).The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.London: Marshall Editions. p. 84.ISBN978-1-84028-152-1.
  3. ^Robert R. Reisz; Sean P. Modesto; Diane M. Scott (2011)."A new Early Permian reptile and its significance in early diapsid evolution".Proceedings of the Royal Society B.278(1725): 3731–3737.doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0439.PMC3203498.PMID21525061.