Vulcanodontidae

Vulcanodontidae is a family of basal sauropodomorph dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic period. The family was first named by Peter Galton in 1984 and includes the genera Vulcanodon and Barapasaurus.

Description

Vulcanodontidae dinosaurs were large, quadrupedal herbivores with long necks and tails. They are characterized by their primitive skeletal structure, particularly in the hip and hind limb region. The femur of these dinosaurs is straight and lacks the sigmoidal curvature seen in more derived sauropodomorphs.

Taxonomy

The family Vulcanodontidae was first named by Peter Galton in 1984 to include the genus Vulcanodon. Later, the genus Barapasaurus was also included in this family. The family is considered to be a group of basal sauropodomorphs, meaning they are among the earliest known members of the group that includes the largest land animals to have ever lived.

Genera

The Vulcanodontidae family includes two genera:

• Vulcanodon: The type genus of the family, Vulcanodon was a large dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period. It was first discovered in Zimbabwe and is known from a single, nearly complete skeleton.

• Barapasaurus: Barapasaurus was a large dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period. It was first discovered in India and is known from several partial skeletons.

See also

• List of dinosaur families
• Sauropodomorpha
• Jurassic