Gojirasaurus

''Gojirasaurs'' (meaning "Godzilla lizard")K. Carpenter, 1997, "A giant coelophysoid (Ceratosauria) theropod from the Upper Triassic of New Mexico, USA", ''Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen'' 205 (#2): 189-208 is genus of coelophysoid theropod dinosaur named after the giant monster movie character Gojira (the Hepburn romanized Japanese name for the monster Godzilla).

Etymology

The composite term ''Gojirasaurus'' is derived from the name of the giant Japanese movie monster "Gojira" (Godzilla) and the Greek word "" () meaning "lizard"; thus, "Godzilla lizard". In addition, a theropod dinosaur with the name ''Godzillasaurus'' exists in the Heisei era of ''Godzilla'' films, and in that continuity is explained to be the non mutated form of Godzilla. "Gojira" was selected as a reference to the great size of this theropod, which exceeded that of its Triassic counterparts. The specific name ''quayi'', is a reference to Quay County, New Mexico, where the holotype specimen was discovered. ''Gojirasaurus'' was described and named by Kenneth Carpenter in 1997 and the type species is ''Gojirasaurus quayi''.

Description

''Gojirasaurus'' is one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs known from the Triassic Period, almost the size of its relative, the large coelophysoid ''Dilophosaurus''. The size of its tibia was 469 mm, which was comparable to that of ''Liliensternus'' (409 mm) and ''Dilophosaurus'' (555 mm), suggesting that it was a large Triassic dinosaur, estimated to be about 5.5 m (18 ft) long, which can be extrapolated to a weight of approximately 150–200 kg (330–440 lb). Carpenter (1997) pointed to features of the pelvis and ankle suggesting that this was an immature individual, and could therefore have grown to even a larger size in maturity. Christopher T. Griffith (2019) confirmed ''Gojirasaurus'' possessed features indicative of ontogenetic immaturity. Specimen NMMNH P-4666, which consists of only a pubis, was referred to this genus by Hunt in 1994.

Classification

In 1994 Adrian Hunt, in his unpublished thesis, described and named this material "Revueltoraptor lucasi" which is now considered a nomen nudum. Carpenter officially described and named UCM 47221, ''Gojirasaurus quayi'' in 1997 and classified it as a coelophysoid. The original remains attributed to this dinosaur included a serrated tooth, a cervical rib, two anterior dorsal ribs, one posterior dorsal rib, a right scapula, two gastralia, four vertebrae, one anterior chevron, a right pubis, a left tibia, and one metatarsal. Tykoski and Rowe (2004) and later Carrano ''et al.'' (2005) agreed that ''Gojirasaurus'' is more derived than ''Dilophosaurus'' However, later study by Nesbitt ''et al.'' (2007) showed that the vertebrae actually belonged to the rauisuchian ''Shuvosaurus'', and the pubis and tibia belonged to another coelophysoid, indistinguishable from the contemporary ''Coelophysis'', making the status of ''Gojirasaurus'' as a valid genus dubious.

Distinguishing anatomical features

According to Nesbitt ''et al.'' (2007), ''Gojirasaurus'' can be distinguished based on the fact that its tibia is more robust than that of its relative ''Coelophysis''. Mortimer (2012) has proposed that the observed difference in the leg bone might be just size-related, and not a true apomorphy. Rauhut (2003) attempted to diagnose this genus based on the fact that the mid/posterior dorsal vertebrae had taller neural spines than those observed in other coelophysoids. However, the reassignment of the dorsal vertebrae on which the diagnosis was based would render it invalid.

Paleoecology

The only known specimen of ''Gojirasaurus'' was discovered in the Cooper Canyon Formation of the Dockum Group near Revuelto Creek, Quay County, in New Mexico. This genus was discovered in 1981, in gray carbonaceous mudstone deposited during the Norian stage of the Late Triassic, which based on magnetostratigraphy,Molina-Garza, R. S., Geissman, J. W., and Lucas, S. G. 1993. Late Carnian-early Norian magnetostratigraphy from nonmarine strata, Chinle Group, New Mexico. was approximately 228 to 208 million years ago. This specimen is housed in the collection of the University of Colorado Museum, in Boulder, Colorado. ''Gojirasauruss assignment to the Coelophysoidea, would suggest that it was a bipedal, terrestrial, actively mobile carnivore. Contemporaries of ''Gojirasaurus'' included the pseudosuchian ''Shuvosaurus'', and the phytosaur ''Rutiodon''.

See also

* Timeline of coelophysoid research

References

External links

Specimen NMMNH P-4666

{{Taxonbar, from=Q134199

Late Triassic dinosaurs of North America
Coelophysoids
Godzilla (franchise)
Taxa named by Kenneth Carpenter
Paleontology in New Mexico