Redescription of the Skull ofColoradisaurus brevis(Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic Los Colorados Formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Union Basin, northwestern Argentina

A comprehensive redescription of the skull of Coloradisaurus brevis, a basal sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic Los Colorados Formation in Argentina's Ischigualasto-Villa Union Basin, reveals new autapomorphies and supports its placement within Massospondylidae. The study identifies unique cranial features, such as circular upper temporal fenestrae and distinct laminae on the basisphenoid and parasphenoid, while also noting convergent traits shared with plateosaurids, like a low mandibular articulation and broad maxillary wall. This dual characterization highlights the complex evolutionary relationships among basal sauropodomorphs, blending massospondylid characteristics with plateosaurid-like features, suggesting a more nuanced phylogenetic pattern than previously recognized.

Apaldetti, C., Martinez, R. N., Pol, D., & Souter, T. (2014). Redescription of the Skull ofColoradisaurus brevis(Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic Los Colorados Formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Union Basin, northwestern Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 34(5), 1113–1132. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2014.859147