SauropodomorphaMassospondylidaeBP/1/4934

Massospondylus carinatus

Massospondylus carinatus skeletal reconstruction, left lateral view, reconstructed length ~5.5 m.
Scale bar = 1 meter
Taxon
Massospondylus carinatus Owen, 1854
Specimen
BP/1/4934
Reconstructed length
~5.6 m (18 feet)
View
Left lateral
Drawing
© Scott Hartman
Drawn
2012, revised 2024
Clade
  1. Sauropodomorpha
  2. Massospondylidae

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Massospondylus was a common, basal Early Jurassic sauropodomorph from southern Africa. One of the first dinosaurs to be named, today it is known from wonderfully complete specimens, including a complete growth series down to fossil embryos. As adults Massospondylus was strictly bipedal, with arms far too short for walking on. The neck is proportionately long, even for basal sauropodomorphs. The specimen restored here is BP/1/4934, the neotype* of Massospondylus carinatus.

*What is a neotype you ask? When the original type specimen is lost (in this case bombed during WWII) or otherwise cannot continue serving its role as a type specimen, a neotype (“neo” = new) can be designated as a replacement.