What is Camposaurus?
{{italictitle}} :''Not to be confused with [[Camptosaurus]].'' {{Taxobox | name = ''Camposaurus'' | fossil_range = [[Upper Triassic]] | image= | image_width=200px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]] | superordo = [[Dinosaur]]ia | ordo = [[Saurischia]] | subordo = [[Theropod]]a | superfamilia = [[Coelophysoidea]] | familia = [[Coelophysidae]] | genus = '''''Camposaurus''''' | binomial = ''Camposaurus arizonensis'' | binomial_authority = Hunt ''et al.'', 1998 }} '''''Camposaurus''''' is a [[dinosaur]] from the [[Late Triassic]] of [[North America]]. It is a relative of ''[[Coelophysis]]''. This relationship was upheld by a recent [[phylogenetic]] anlysis.<ref name=Ezcurra/> With [[fossil]]s dating back to 205–210 million years ago (mya), it is the oldest known neo[[theropod]]. It is known from partial lower [[leg]] bones and other fragmentary material.<ref name=Ezcurra/><ref>A.P. Hunt ''et al.'' 1998. Late Triassic dinosaurs from the western United States. ''Géobios'' '''31'''(4): 511-531</ref> A study of ''Camposaurus arizoniensis'' by Ezcurra and Brusatte discovered two unique features.<ref name=Ezcurra> Ezcurra M.D. and Brusatte S.L. 2011. Taxonomic and phylogenetic reassessment of the early neotheropod dinosaur ''Camposaurus arizonensis'' from the late Triassic of North America. ''Palaeontology'' '''54''' (4): 763–772. </ref> This meant the specimen was a valid [[genus]] and species. ''Camposaurus'' is definitely a neotheropod. Based on phylogenetic analysis, its closest known relative is ''[[Megapnosaurus]] rhodensis'', because they share similarities in the [[tibia]], and ankle.<ref name=Ezcurra/> Spielman et al. (2007) put ''Camposaurus'' in the family [[Coelophysidae]].<ref>Spielmann J.A. ''et al'' 2007. Oldest records of the Late Triassic theropod dinosaur Coelophysis bauri. In S.G. Lucas & J.A. Spielmann (eds) ''The global Triassic''. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin '''41''', 384-401</ref> == References == {{Reflist}}