Re: Shuvosaurus

["Mickey Mortimer" <Mickey_Mortimer11@msn.com>]

Rob Gay wrote-

> Does anyone know what the current phylogenetic status of _Shuvosaurus_ is.
I
> know its listed as a toothless coelophysoid on T. Michael Keesey's
website,
> but if this is the case, what characters support this? Are there any more
> specimens, either from the Dockum or the Chinle?

This is based on Oliver Rauhut's work.  His phylogenetic analysis (Rauhut,
2000) groups it with coelophysoids.  This is based on two characters shared
with Syntarsus- forked posterior end of the premaxilla, considerably
elongated basisphenoid.  Of all the theropods Rauhut examined, only
Coelophysis, Syntarsus and Shuvosaurus have such elongate basisphenoids.
The forked premaxilla was only found in Coelophysis, Syntarsus, Shuvosaurus
and Compsognathus.
Holotype- (TTU P 9280) skull, posterodorsal lower jaw, dentary tip, dorsal
vertebra
Referred- (TTU P 9281) anterior dentaries, atlantal arch, scapula
(TTU P 9282) premaxillae, frontal, squamosal, palate, quadrate, braincase,
atlas
(UCM 52081) premaxilla (Parrish and Carpenter 1986)

Mickey Mortimer