Vulcanodontidae
| Vulcanodontidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Models of Vulcanodon in Poland | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Sauropoda |
| Clade: | †Gravisauria |
| Family: | † Cooper, 1984 |
| Genera | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The Early Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs Zizhongosaurus, Barapasaurus, Tazoudasaurus, and Vulcanodon may form a natural group of basal sauropods called the Vulcanodontidae. Basal vulcanodonts include some of the earliest known examples of sauropods. The family-level name Vulcanodontidae was erected by M.R. Cooper in 1984.[1] In 1995 Hunt et al. published the opinion that the family is synonymous with the Barapasauridae.[2] One of the key morphological features specific to the family is an unusually narrow sacrum.












