Eucoelophysis (meaning "true hollow form") is a genus of silesaurid dinosauriform from the Late Triassic (Norian) period Chinle Formation of New Mexico. It was assumed to be a coelophysid upon description,[1] but a study by Nesbitt et al. found that it was actually a close relative of Silesaurus,[2][3] which was independently supported by Ezcurra (2006), who found it to be the sister group to Dinosauria, and Silesaurus as the next most basal taxon.[4]
Eucoelophysis Temporal range: Late Triassic,
| |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Family: | †Silesauridae |
Clade: | †Sulcimentisauria |
Genus: | †Eucoelophysis |
Species: | †E. baldwini
|
Binomial name | |
†Eucoelophysis baldwini Sullivan & Lucas, 1999
|
However, the relationships of Silesaurus are uncertain. Dzik found it to be a basal dinosauriform (the group of archosaurs from which the dinosaurs evolved), but did not rule out the possibility that it represents a primitive ornithischian.[5]