A hyper-robust sauropodomorph dinosaur ilium from the Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic Elliot Formation of South Africa: Implications for the functional diversity of basal Sauropodomorpha

摘要: Abstract It has generally been held that the locomotory habits of sauropodomorph dinosaurs moved in a relatively linear evolutionary progression from bipedal through “semi-bipedal” to fully quadrupedal gait Sauropoda. However, there is now growing appreciation range strategies practiced amongst contemporaneous taxa latest Triassic and earliest Jurassic. Here we present on anatomy hyper-robust basal ilium Late Triassic–Early Jurassic Elliot Formation South Africa. This element, addition highlighting unexpected bauplan diversity throughout Sauropodomorpha, also implications for our understanding relevance “robusticity” evolution beyond generalized limb scaling relationships. Possibly representing unique form hindlimb stabilization during phases locomotion, autapomorphic morphology this newly rediscovered provides additional insight into myriad ways which Sauropodomorpha managed inherited behavioural biomechanical challenges increasing body-size, hyper-herbivory, forelimb primarily adapted use context.