Dispersal and Diversity of Early North American Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs
Author Information
Author(s): Timothy B. Rowe, Hans-Dieter Sues, Robert R. Reisz
Primary Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
Hypothesis
Did North American sauropodomorphs arrive in a single sweepstakes event to undergo a local adaptive radiation, or did they arrive in multiple dispersal events?
Conclusion
The study suggests that sauropodomorphs populated North America in at least three independent dispersal events during the Early Jurassic.
Supporting Evidence
- Sauropodomorphs were absent in North America until the Early Jurassic.
- The study describes a new taxon from the Kayenta Formation of Arizona.
- Phylogenetic analyses suggest multiple independent dispersal events.
Takeaway
This study looks at how some dinosaurs got to North America and found that they came in different waves, not all at once.
Methodology
The study involved phylogenetic analysis of fossil specimens to determine relationships among sauropodomorphs.
Limitations
The study's conclusions are based on the fossil record, which may not capture all instances of dispersal.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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