Pronunciation: bli-KAHN-a-SOR-uh-day
Author: Galton & van Heerden
Year: 1985
Meaning: Blikanasaurus family (see etymology)
Locomotion: Probably quadrupedal (four legs)
Synonyms: None known
Author: Galton & van Heerden
Year: 1985
Meaning: Blikanasaurus family (see etymology)
Locomotion: Probably quadrupedal (four legs)
Synonyms: None known
Definition:
No official definition
About
Blikanasauridae was coined by Galton and van Heerden in 1985 to house Blikanasaurus and its closest relatives. Unfortunately, no-one seems to know what its closest relatives are.
On top of that, it's unclear if blikanosaurids were non-sauropod sauropodomorphs or sauropods proper. Such is the mystique surrounding Blikanasauridae, most palaeontologists tend not to use it.
Click here to view Dinochecker's A-Z list of Blikanasaurids.
Etymology
Blikanasauridae is derived from "Blikanasaurus" (itself derived from "Blikana" for Blikana mountain, and the Greek "sauros" meaning lizard) and the Greek "idae" (family).
Further reading
• Galton P and van-Heerden J (1985) "Partial hindlimb of Blikanasaurus cromptoni n. gen. and n. sp., representing a new family of prosauropod dinosaurs from the Upper Triassic of South Africa". Geobios, 18(4): 509-516. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(85)80003-6.
• Galton P and van-Heerden J (1998) "Anatomy of the prosauropod dinosaur Blikanasaurus cromptoni (Upper Triassic, South Africa), with notes on the other tetrapods of the lower Elliot Formation". Paläontologische Zeitschrift 72(1): 163-177. DOI: 10.1007/BF02987824.
