Heterodontosaurid Fossil Measurements From Cañadón Asfalto Formation

Late Toarcian levels of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation yielded new ornithischian fossil remains, including two complete metatarsi with phalanges and caudal vertebrae. The specimen MPEF-PV 3826 is analyzed for pedal measurements, histological features, and phylogenetic characters, suggesting a subadult, bipedal, cursorial heterodontosaurid.

Use Cases

• Perform cluster analysis on pedal measurements to identify similarities with heterodontosaurid taxa.
• Conduct phylogenetic analysis with expanded character sampling on pedal remains to confirm specimen classification.
• Quantitatively compare digit length proportions and claw features among ornithischians, theropods, and birds to assess cursoriality and foot function.
• Analyze histological features from the fossil remains to determine the subadult ontogenetic stage of the individual.

Strengths

• Includes two complete fossil metatarsi with associated phalanges and caudal vertebrae.
• Analysis incorporates quantitative comparisons of digit proportions and claw features across multiple dinosaur and bird groups.
• Specimen is from a defined geological formation and stratigraphic level (late Toarcian, Cañadón Asfalto Formation).

Limitations

• The fossil remains lack diagnostic characters for species-level identification.
• Sample size is limited to a single specimen (MPEF-PV 3826).
• The dataset's structure, specific measurements, and row count are not provided in the input.

Provenance

Source

dryad

Collection Method

Fossil excavation and subsequent morphological, histological, and phylogenetic analysis.

Time Range

Late Toarcian (Jurassic period).

Freshness

null

Geography

Cañadón Asfalto Formation.