Adeopapposaurus
"far eating lizard"
- Lived
- 201 to 175 million years ago, Early Jurassic
- Group
- Early sauropodomorphs, Massospondylidae
- Found in
- Argentina
- Named by
- Martínez 2009
Where its fossils were found
The evidence
Today
190 million years ago
Habitat
It lived in what is now Argentina during the Early Jurassic, in the region that preserves the Cañon del Colorado Formation.
Field notes
About Adeopapposaurus
What it was like
Adeopapposaurus was a plant eater from the long-necked line that later produced the giant sauropods. It had a long neck, which gave it its name, and was similar to Massospondylus.
Its jaws may have had a horny beak at the front.
Its world
It lived in the Early Jurassic in what is now Argentina. Its bones come from the Cañon del Colorado Formation.
How it was found
Martínez named Adeopapposaurus in 2009. Several partial skeletons are known, some with skulls.
Field gallery
More views of Adeopapposaurus
Scenes reconstructed from the available fossil evidence.
1 of 3
The evidence
The science behind Adeopapposaurus
Which parts of the picture come from its own bones, and which come from its relatives.
From its own fossils
- Partial skeletons with skulls preserve much of the head, neck and body.
- Elongated neck vertebrae gave it a long reach.
- Roughened areas and rows of openings at the jaw tips suggest a horny beak.
Borrowed from relatives
- Much of its shape comes from its own bones; Massospondylus and Leyesaurus help fill gaps in the skeleton.
Still unknown
- The exact shape of its beak.
- Its skin covering and color.
- Which plants it ate.
Discovery timeline
- 2009Named itMartínez
- 2011Family treeApaldetti et al.
- 2023Growing upChapelle, Botha & Choiniere
Key papers
The research behind what we know of Adeopapposaurus
Named it
Described the skeleton and jaws, identifying a long neck and bony features that suggest a horny beak.
Adeopapposaurus mognai, gen. et sp. nov. (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha), with comments on adaptations of basal Sauropodomorpha. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29: 142-164
Read the paper : Adeopapposaurus mognai, gen. et sp. nov. (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha), with comments on adaptations of basal Sauropodomorpha (opens in a new tab)Family tree
Named Leyesaurus and recovered it as the closest relative of Adeopapposaurus, with both closely related to Massospondylus.
A New Basal Sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from Quebrada del Barro Formation (Marayes-El Carrizal Basin), Northwestern Argentina. PLoS ONE 6: e26964
Read the paper : A New Basal Sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from Quebrada del Barro Formation (Marayes-El Carrizal Basin), Northwestern Argentina (opens in a new tab)Growing up
Comparisons with a small adult sauropodomorph identified the Adeopapposaurus type skeleton as immature and noted a much larger referred skull.
Osteohistology reveals the smallest adult Jurassic sauropodomorph. Royal Society Open Science 10
Read the paper : Osteohistology reveals the smallest adult Jurassic sauropodomorph (opens in a new tab)
Close relatives
Other members of Massospondylidae
Sources: Wikidata