RE: new papers in Journal of Paleontology

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Jay Nair wrote:

> A REASSESSMENT OF DIANCHUNGOSAURUS LUFENGENSIS AN ENIGMATIC REPTILE FROM 
> THE LOWER LUFENG FORMATION (LOWER JURASSIC) OF YUNNAN PROVINCE, PEOPLE'S 
> REPUBLIC OF  CHINA. PAUL M. BARRETT, XU XING,
> pages 981-986.

It's no longer a heterodontosaurid (and never was)...

Abstract: _Dianchungosaurus lufengensis_ was erected on the basis of 
fragmentary isolated jaw elements (a left premaxilla and left and right 
partial lower jaws) from the Lower Lufeng Formation (Lower Jurassic) of 
Yunnan Province, China.  Yang referred _Dianchungosaurus_ to the
Heterodontosauridae (Ornithischia, Ornithopoda), as several features 
appeared to indicate affinity with the southern African genus 
_Heterodontosaurus_.  However, reexamination of the type material 
demonstrates that the holotype specimen of _Dianchungosaurus_ represents a 
chimaera of
prosauropod dinosaur and mesoeucrocodylian remains: the mesoeucrocodylian 
premaxilla is distinctive and allows the genus to be diagnosed on the basis 
of several autapomorphic features.  Revision of this genus thereby 
invalidates the only reported occurrence of a heterodontosaurid dinosaur 
from Asia.

Cheers

Tim