Parasauropodopus

Parasauropodopus

Parasauropodopus is a genus of fossil footprints believed to have been made by a sauropodomorph dinosaur. The name Parasauropodopus was first proposed by Ellenberger in 1972. The ichnogenus is known from the Early Jurassic period, specifically the Hettangian to Sinemurian stages.

Description

The footprints of Parasauropodopus are characterized by their small size, typically measuring less than 10 cm in length. They are tridactyl in nature, meaning they have three toes, and show a wide divergence between the outer digits. The footprints also exhibit a strong heel impression, which is a characteristic feature of this ichnogenus.

Discovery and Classification

The footprints now classified as Parasauropodopus were first discovered in the Stormberg Group of South Africa. They were initially described as belonging to the ichnogenus Eubrontes, but were later reclassified by Ellenberger in 1972. The reclassification was based on the unique characteristics of the footprints, which differed significantly from the typical Eubrontes footprints.

Significance

The discovery of Parasauropodopus footprints provides valuable insights into the early evolution of sauropodomorph dinosaurs. The small size of the footprints suggests that these dinosaurs were much smaller in the Early Jurassic than they were in later periods. This supports the theory that sauropodomorphs underwent a significant increase in size during the Jurassic period.

See Also

• Dinosaur
• Fossil
• Ichnology
• Sauropodomorpha