Avipes
Avipes is a genus of extinct archosaurs known from a single species, Avipes dillstedtianus. This dinosaur lived during the middle Triassic period and its name translates to "bird foot." The limited fossil evidence makes its precise classification challenging.
Key Facts
- ›Lived during the middle Triassic period.
- ›The genus name "Avipes" means "bird foot."
- ›Only one species, Avipes dillstedtianus, is known.
- ›The sole fossil specimen is a partial foot.
- ›Fossils were discovered in Thuringia, Germany.
- ›Its exact classification within Archosauria is indeterminate due to the incomplete fossil record.
- Possessed feet resembling those of birds, as indicated by its name.
- The only known fossil is a partial foot, consisting of metatarsals.
Germany
About Avipes
Avipes is an extinct genus of archosaurs, known from a single species, Avipes dillstedtianus. This ancient creature lived during the middle Triassic period. The genus name, Avipes, translates from Latin to "bird foot," reflecting a characteristic suggested by its fossilized remains.
What is known
The fossil record for Avipes is exceptionally limited, consisting solely of a partial foot, specifically the metatarsals. This specimen was discovered in Bedheim, Thuringia, Germany, within deposits of Lettenkohlensandstein. The genus was formally named by Huene in 1932. While initially classified by some as a coelurosaur or ceratosaur, further study by Rauhut and Hungerbuhler in 2000 concluded that the fossil was too incomplete to assign it to a more specific group within Archosauria, rendering its precise classification indeterminate.
Due to the scarcity of fossil evidence, details regarding Avipes' diet, locomotion, habitat, size, and lifespan remain largely unknown. Its placement within the broader Archosauria group indicates it was a reptile, but specific evolutionary relationships and ecological roles are not well-understood.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Avipes mean?
The scientific name Avipes means "bird foot." This name was given due to the appearance of its fossilized foot bones.
When did Avipes live?
Avipes lived during the middle Triassic period. This places it among some of the earliest archosaurs.
Where were Avipes fossils found?
The only known fossil of Avipes was discovered in Bedheim, Thuringia, Germany. It was found in deposits of Lettenkohlensandstein.
What kind of dinosaur was Avipes?
Avipes is classified as an archosaur. However, due to the incompleteness of its fossil remains, it is considered indeterminate beyond this broad group.
How much of Avipes has been discovered?
Very little of Avipes has been discovered. The only known fossil specimen consists of a partial foot, specifically the metatarsals.
Related Dinosaur species
Actiosaurus
Actiosaurus is an extinct genus of reptile first described in 1883. Initially classified as a dinosaur, it was later reinterpreted as an ichthyosaur and may represent the remains of a choristodere. Due to limited fossil evidence, Actiosaurus is considered a nomen dubium and a species inquirenda.
Arctosaurus
Arctosaurus is an extinct genus of archosauromorph reptile that lived during the Late Triassic period. Originally classified as a sauropodomorph dinosaur, and sometimes as a theropod, recent reviews suggest it is best classified within Archosauriformes due to shared reptilian traits. Its name, meaning "arctic lizard," reflects its discovery location.
Belodon
Belodon is considered a dubious genus of phytosaur, a group of crocodile-like reptiles that inhabited the Earth during the Triassic period. Fossils attributed to Belodon have been discovered across Europe, North America, and India. Due to the lack of taxonomic utility in phytosaur teeth, the genus is now regarded as invalid, with many specimens reassigned to other genera.