In Depth
Originally named Coloradia, it was later discovered that the genus name had already been assigned to a type of moth, hence the revision and change to Coloradisaurus in 1983. Identified as a massospondylid sauropodomorph, Coloradisaurus has been considered as a synonym to the genus Mussaurus. However, Mussaurus has been established only upon hatchlings, it will be impossible to be certain of this without the discovery of more individuals of different ages that show the transition from juvenile to adult individuals.
Coloradisaurus is named after the Los Colorados Formation where the holotype fossil was discovered, other dinosaurs from this formation include Riojasaurus, Lessemsaurus and Zupaysaurus, the latter of which might have been a predator of Coloradisaurus.
Further Reading
- Coloradia brevis n. g. et n. sp. (Saurischia–Prosauropoda), dinosaurio Plateosauridae de la Formacion Los Colorados, Triasico Superior de La Rioja, Argentina, Jose F. Bonaparte in 1978.
