A new Late Triassic sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Mid-Zambezi Basin, Zimbabwe

Abstract

An articulated partial hind limb collected from the Pebbly Arkose Formation (Norian, Upper Triassic) of the Upper Karoo Group of Zimbabwe is described as a new taxon of sauropodomorph dinosaur. Musankwa sanyatiensis gen. et sp. nov. was discovered on the shoreline of Lake Kariba, on Spurwing Island in the Mid-Zambezi Basin. The holotype consists of a right femur, tibia, and astragalus, and can be distinguished from all other Late Triassic massopodan sauropodomorphs on the basis of numerous features, which form a unique character combination. Phylogenetic analysis recovers the new taxon as the earliest-branching lineage within Massopoda. Musankwa is only the fourth dinosaur to be named from the Karoo-aged basins of Zimbabwe and further demonstrates the high potential of this region for discoveries of new early dinosaur material.