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Mbiresaurus
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<h2 id="discovery-and-naming">Discovery and naming</h2> <p>The <i>Mbiresaurus</i> <a href="/facts/Holotype/a8n9vhHa">holotype</a> specimen, <a href="/facts/Natural_History_Museum_of_Zimbabwe/RtA4ByPC">NHMZ</a> 2222, was discovered in two expeditions in 2017 and 2019 in layers of the Pebbly Arkose Formation on Dande Communal Land of <a href="/facts/Mbire_District/Qkf5EzPl">Mbire District</a>, <a href="/facts/Mashonaland_Central_Province/DVn0Fyhq">Mashonaland Central Province</a>, Zimbabwe, which dates to the late <a href="/facts/Carnian/DV9VJ0o3">Carnian</a> age of the late Triassic period. The holotype consists of a mostly complete, partially-articulated skeleton, including a partial <a href="/facts/Skull/A9Wp63Np">skull</a> and <a href="/facts/Mandible/1ATEfAQa">lower jaws</a>, <a href="/facts/Cervical_vertebrae/M7Kf14h9">cervical</a>, <a href="/facts/Thoracic_vertebrae/WXBWDkfM">dorsal</a>, <a href="/facts/Sacrum/CTFnjSm0">sacral</a>, and <a href="/facts/Vertebra/qAdLhD5H">caudal vertebrae</a>, fragments of <a href="/facts/Rib_cage/KzXLlujq">ribs</a>, partial <a href="/facts/Shoulder_girdle/XyWsm4hv">pectoral</a> and <a href="/facts/Pelvis/8Fq9z3TY">pelvic girdles</a>, and partial <a href="/facts/Forelimb/4hLM1JaC">forelimbs</a> and <a href="/facts/Hindlimb/hVIIXoQu">hindlimbs</a>. A larger referred specimen, NHMZ 2547, was found in association with the holotype.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>In 2022, Griffin <i>et al</i>. <a href="/facts/Species_description/JyFpxSvJ">described</a> <i>Mbiresaurus</i> as a new genus and species of basal sauropodomorph. The <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">generic name</a>, "<i>Mbiresaurus</i>", combines a reference to the Mbire district of Zimbabwe with the <a href="/facts/Latin/pM3Kge85">Latin</a> "sauros", meaning "reptile". The <a href="/facts/Specific_name_(zoology)/RuH34bxb">specific name</a>, "<i>raathi</i>", honors Michael Raath, one of the discoverers of the fossils, and his contributions to Zimbabwean paleontology.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="classification">Classification</h2> <p>In their <a href="/facts/Phylogenetics/bw4rsovt">phylogenetic analyses</a>, Griffin <i>et al</i>. (2022) recovered <i>Mbiresaurus</i> as a basal member of <a href="/facts/Sauropodomorpha/7DBPqQGD">Sauropodomorpha</a>. The <a href="/facts/Cladogram/fWFYhUFo">cladogram</a> below displays the results of their phylogenetic analyses.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <table><tbody><tr><td><a href="/facts/Saurischia/6DNGvpdt">Saurischia</a></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><a href="/facts/Theropoda/KUzy1Ef7">Theropoda</a></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Sauropodomorpha/7DBPqQGD">Sauropodomorpha</a></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Eoraptor/xwqThHMS">Eoraptor</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Guaibasaurus/R4ygjPBw">Guaibasaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Buriolestes/dCzEcAYS">Buriolestes</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i>Mbiresaurus</i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Saturnalia_tupiniquim/og606njz">Saturnalia</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Pampadromaeus/ugB58psz">Pampadromaeus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Panphagia/U0WVbVCX">Panphagia</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Bagualosaurus/LJ9eyyoh">Bagualosaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Unaysaurus/enPwndV0">Unaysaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Riojasaurus/I7wWRK3H">Riojasaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Plateosaurus/qFNxtNKf">Plateosaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Efraasia/MboA2Rp8">Efraasia</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Thecodontosaurus/t1k3qzWf">Thecodontosaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Pantydraco/tIQs8EKE">Pantydraco</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Coloradisaurus/VfpfABQT">Coloradisaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Yunnanosaurus/WAGzPEad">Yunnanosaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Aardonyx/gDLuJtWk">Aardonyx</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Pulanesaura/akPD3AeJ">Pulanesaura</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Vulcanodon/M4bmuoAV">Vulcanodon</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Tazoudasaurus/pM07yo7j">Tazoudasaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Gongxianosaurus/6u24EMWq">Gongxianosaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Antetonitrus/mxdQzazM">Antetonitrus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Massospondylus_kaalae/okmMmoBX">Massospondylus kaalae</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Lufengosaurus/ck3h8NMu">Lufengosaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Massospondylus_carinatus/okmMmoBX">Massospondylus carinatus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td rowspan="2"><p><i><a href="/facts/Leyesaurus/5nhVr8WX">Leyesaurus</a></i></p></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="paleoenvironment">Paleoenvironment</h2> <p><i>Mbiresaurus</i> is known from the <a href="/facts/Pebbly_Arkose_Formation/s6npG4Uv">Pebbly Arkose Formation</a> of Zimbabwe. Other fossils belonging to <i><a href="/facts/Hyperodapedon/pE8NhxdL">Hyperodapedon</a></i>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> as well as unnamed <a href="/facts/Aetosaurs/TlmQTyeg">aetosaurs</a>, <a href="/facts/Herrerasaurids/mzHIFXRA">herrerasaurids</a>, and <a href="/facts/Synapsids/uzYVtB0F">synapsids</a> (possible <a href="/facts/Dicynodont/dLcplJmI">dicynodont</a> and <a href="/facts/Gomphodontosuchine/U6qqx9UJ">gomphodontosuchine</a> <a href="/facts/Traversodontid/psJQtMyl">traversodontid</a> <a href="/facts/Cynodont/8Trvx14s">cynodont</a>) have also been recovered from the formation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Griffin, Christopher T.; Wynd, Brenen M.; Munyikwa, Darlington; Broderick, Tim J.; Zondo, Michel; Tolan, Stephen; Langer, Max C.; Nesbitt, Sterling J.; Taruvinga, Hazel R. (2022-08-31). "Africa's oldest dinosaurs reveal early suppression of dinosaur distribution". Nature. 609 (7926): 313–319. Bibcode:2022Natur.609..313G. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05133-x. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 36045297. S2CID 251977824. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Griffin, Christopher T.; Wynd, Brenen M.; Munyikwa, Darlington; Broderick, Tim J.; Zondo, Michel; Tolan, Stephen; Langer, Max C.; Nesbitt, Sterling J.; Taruvinga, Hazel R. (2022-08-31). "Africa's oldest dinosaurs reveal early suppression of dinosaur distribution". Nature. 609 (7926): 313–319. Bibcode:2022Natur.609..313G. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05133-x. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 36045297. S2CID 251977824. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Griffin, Christopher T.; Wynd, Brenen M.; Munyikwa, Darlington; Broderick, Tim J.; Zondo, Michel; Tolan, Stephen; Langer, Max C.; Nesbitt, Sterling J.; Taruvinga, Hazel R. (2022-08-31). "Africa's oldest dinosaurs reveal early suppression of dinosaur distribution". Nature. 609 (7926): 313–319. Bibcode:2022Natur.609..313G. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05133-x. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 36045297. S2CID 251977824. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Griffin, Christopher T.; Wynd, Brenen M.; Munyikwa, Darlington; Broderick, Tim J.; Zondo, Michel; Tolan, Stephen; Langer, Max C.; Nesbitt, Sterling J.; Taruvinga, Hazel R. (2022-08-31). "Africa's oldest dinosaurs reveal early suppression of dinosaur distribution". Nature. 609 (7926): 313–319. Bibcode:2022Natur.609..313G. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05133-x. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 36045297. S2CID 251977824. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Raath, M. A.; Oesterlen, P. M.; Kitching, J. W. (1992). "First record of Triassic Rhynchosauria (Reptilia: Diapsida) from the lower Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe". Palaentologia Africana. 29: 1–10. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.916.6994. <a href="/wiki/CiteSeerX_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/CiteSeerX_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Griffin, Christopher T.; Wynd, Brenen M.; Munyikwa, Darlington; Broderick, Tim J.; Zondo, Michel; Tolan, Stephen; Langer, Max C.; Nesbitt, Sterling J.; Taruvinga, Hazel R. (2022-08-31). "Africa's oldest dinosaurs reveal early suppression of dinosaur distribution". Nature. 609 (7926): 313–319. Bibcode:2022Natur.609..313G. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05133-x. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 36045297. S2CID 251977824. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>