Pronunciation: GRAV-i-SOR-ree-uh
Author: Ronan Allain and Najat Aquesbi
Year: 2008
Meaning: Heavy lizards (see etymology)
Locomotion: Quadrupedal (four legs)
Synonyms: None known
Author: Ronan Allain and Najat Aquesbi
Year: 2008
Meaning: Heavy lizards (see etymology)
Locomotion: Quadrupedal (four legs)
Synonyms: None known
Definition
The most recent common ancestor of Tazoudasaurus and Saltasaurus and all its descendants.
About
Gravisauria is a group of sauropod dinosaurs that contains Eusauropoda and the two-crittered-clade (Vulcanodon + Tazoudasaurus) known as Vulcanodontidae.
Despite the name, not all members of Gravisauria (the "Heavy Lizards") were particularly heavy, as far as sauropods go. Some of them, however, were among the largest creatures ever to walk the earth.
Click here to search Dinochecker for Gravisaurians.
Etymology
Gravisauria is derived from the Latin "gravis" (heavy), and the Greek "sauros" (lizard) and "-ia" (neuter plural).
Relationships
References
• Ronan Allain and Najat Aquesbi (2008) "Anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Tazoudasaurus naimi (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the late Early Jurassic of Morocco". Geodiversitas 30 (2): 345-424. [coins Gravisauria.]
