New name for Megalosaurus hesperis

[gerarus@westnet.com.au]

Hi all, 

ÂÂ I came across this while scanning through _Zootaxa_ publications for the 
last week (which I'm happy to say also include a reclassification of _Dino_, 
but that's a live harvestman, not a dead lizard): 

Benson, R. B. J. 2008. A redescription of _'Megalosaurus' hesperis_ 
(Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Inferior Oolite (Bajocian, Middle Jurassic) of 
Dorset, United Kingdom. _Zootaxa_ 1931: 57-67. 

"_âMegalosaurusâ hesperis_ from the Inferior Oolite (Bajocian, Middle 
Jurassic) of Dorset, UK is redescribed. Several features of _â M.â 
hesperis_ demonstrate that it is distinct from the lectotype dentary of 
_Megalosaurus_: an enlarged, subcircular third alveolus and subcylindrical, 
anteriorly inclined anterior dentary teeth; an anterior Meckelian foramen 
located almost directly anterior to the posterior Meckelian foramen; low 
interdental plates; and a prominent lip bounding the Meckelian groove 
ventrally, anterior to the Meckelian fossa. Therefore a new genus, 
_Duriavenator_, is erected to form the new combination _D. hesperis_. _D. 
hesperis_ possesses two autapomorphies of the maxilla: a deep groove on dorsal 
surface of the jugal process containing numerous pneumatic foramina; and an 
array of small foramina in the ventral part of the articular surface for the 
premaxilla. Several features confirm the tetanuran affinities of _D. hesperis_: 
a prominent anterior process of the
 maxilla; the presence of band-like dental enamel wrinkles; the maxillary 
'fenestra' is present but takes the form of an imperforate fossa (a 
spinosauroid synapomorphy); and the paradental groove is wide anteriorly, 
defining a distinct gap between the interdental plates and the medial wall of 
the dentary (a synapomorphy of Spinosauridae + Megalosauridae). Older records 
of tetanurans have been proposed, but most of these have been refuted and 
detailed re-examination of other early reports is warranted to establish the 
date of origin of this clade. An early Middle Jurassic origin of tetanurans is 
preferred."

No, I don't have a copy, before anyone asks.

    Cheers,

        Christopher Taylor

http://catalogue-of-organisms.blogspot.com