Timeline of coelophysoid research

Skeleton of Coelophysis bauri

This timeline of coelophysoid research is a chronological listing of events in the history of paleontology focused on the coelophysoids, a group of primitive theropod dinosaurs that were among Earth's dominant predators during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic epochs.[1] Although formally trained scientists didn't discover coelophysoid fossils until the late 19th century, Native Americans of the modern southwestern United States may have already encountered their fossils. Navajo creation mythology describes the early Earth as being inhabited by a variety of different kinds of monsters who hunted humans for food. These monsters were killed by storms and the heroic Monster Slayers, leaving behind their bones. As these tales were told in New Mexico not far from bonebeds of Coelophysis, this dinosaur's remains may have been among the fossil remains that inspired the story.[2]

The first scientifically documented coelophysoid taxon was Coelophysis bauri itself.[3] However, when the species was first described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1887, it was thought to belong to a genus of small carnivorous dinosaurs called Coelurus.[4] Later that same year Cope changed his mind and transferred it to the genus Tanystrophaeus. Tanystrophaeus turned out to be a long-necked reptile not regarded by scientists as a true dinosaur. As such, "Tanystrophaeus" bauri was soon given its own genus, Coelophysis in 1889.[5] Over the ensuing decades, many new coelophysoids would be discovered, like Podokesaurus, Procompsognathus, and Segisaurus.[3]

In 1947, a paleontological team led by Edwin Colbert made a major discovery in New Mexico. While on an expedition to Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, he made a detour to Ghost Ranch, New Mexico where many phytosaur fossils had been found.[6] There they discovered a massive bonebed preserving hundreds of Coelophysis, many of which were complete and articulated.[7] The find has been considered the most significant Triassic fossil discovery in North America.[8] Later, other coelophysoids and even other bonebeds would be discovered.[9] Notable coelophysoids discovered during the mid to late 20th century include Syntarsus (now Megapnosaurus) and Gojirasaurus.[3] Despite this extensive history of research, the formal recognition of the Coelophysoidea as a distinct group of dinosaurs is relatively recent and the group would not be formally named until a 1994 by Thomas Holtz.[10]

Prescientific

19th century

Skeletal mount of Coelophysis bauri

1880s

1884

1887

1889

1890s

1895

20th century

1910s

Holotype specimen of Podokesaurus holyokensis

1911

1913

Early illustration of type specimen ofSegisaurus halli

1915

1930s

1934

1936

1940s

1947

1960s

1969


1980s

Skeletal mount of Liliensternus liliensterni

1984

1989

1990s

Artistic restoration of Gojirasaurus quayi

1991

1993

1994

Artistic restoration of Camposaurus arizonensis

1997

1998

21st century

2000s

The juvenile holotype specimen of Tawa hallae with a human to scale. Larger silhouette represents the estimated size of an adult.

2001

2007

2009

2010s

2014

2015

See also

Footnotes

  1. Tykoski and Rowe (2004); "Introduction", page 47.
  2. 1 2 Mayor (2005); "The Monsters," pages 126–127.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Tykoski and Rowe (2004); "Table 3.1: Ceratosauria", page 48.
  4. 1 2 Colbert (1995); "Bones and History," page 92.
  5. Colbert (1995); "Bones and History," pages 92–93.
  6. 1 2 Colbert (1995); "The Discovery," pages 1–4.
  7. 1 2 Colbert (1995); "The Discovery," pages 17–19.
  8. Colbert (1995); "The Discovery," page 20.
  9. Tykoski and Rowe (2004); "Paleobiology", pages 69–70.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Tykoski and Rowe (2004); "Systematics and Evolution", page 64.
  11. Mayor (2005); "The Monsters," page 127.
  12. eg. Tykoski and Rowe (2004); in passim.
  13. 1 2 Colbert (1995); "Bones and History," page 93.
  14. Colbert (1995); "Bones and History," pages 93–94.
  15. Colbert (1995); "Bones and History," page 95.
  16. 1 2 3 Tykoski and Rowe (2004); "Paleobiology", page 69.
  17. Colbert (1995); "Bones and History," pages 96–97.
  18. Ezcurra and Cuny (2007); "Abstract," page 73.
  19. Nesbitt et al. (2009); "Abstract," page 1530.
  20. You et al. (2014); "Abstract," page 233.
  21. Nesbitt and Ezcurra (2015); "Systematic paleontology," page 515.

References

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