Welcome to the first entry of Obscure Dinosaur of the Week! Each week, I will write about a dinosaur that is not in popular media, but I think still deserves mention, starting from A through to Z. It's truly astonishing to see just how many dinosaurs have been discovered and described but aren't widely known by the general public. The point of these entries is to remind everyone of the diversity of dinosaurs, beyond Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops!
Each entry will detail the genus and species name, meaning behind the name (etymology), how old it is, where it was found, and the fossils first ascribed to it. I'll also include a few interesting facts, and a timeline to indicate exactly how old it is relative to other periods. So, I hope you enjoy Obscure Dino of the Week! To begin, let me introduce... Alwalkeria!
Each entry will detail the genus and species name, meaning behind the name (etymology), how old it is, where it was found, and the fossils first ascribed to it. I'll also include a few interesting facts, and a timeline to indicate exactly how old it is relative to other periods. So, I hope you enjoy Obscure Dino of the Week! To begin, let me introduce... Alwalkeria!
| Name: Alwalkeria maleriensis Etymology: In reference to British palaeontologist Alick D. Walker, and the Maleri Formation in which the holotype was found. This genus was originally named Walkeria, but was changed to Alwalkeria due to a previously described bryozoan (Walkeria Fleming, 1823) occupying the same name. Distribution: Late Triassic (Carnian, 235-230 Ma) of Andhra Pradesh, India. Type Specimen: ISI R.306 - Partial skull, several vertebrae, hindlimb elements. |  |
Carnian, Late Triassic: 235-230 Ma
Interesting fact - Is Alwalkeria a chimera?
The first described fossil material of A. maleriensis included a partial skull, several vertebrae, and hindlimb elements. It was thought to belong to coelophysoidae; relatively small, bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs. However, it is now thought to be a chimera; the original fossil actually consisting of multiple animal remains (including an ornithosuchid and prolacertiformes (both ancient reptiles), and a saurischian (a "lizard hipped" dinosaur)). If part of the fossil (specifically, an ankle bone) is indeed saurischian, then this may one of the oldest basal saurischians known and should be correctly classified.
The first described fossil material of A. maleriensis included a partial skull, several vertebrae, and hindlimb elements. It was thought to belong to coelophysoidae; relatively small, bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs. However, it is now thought to be a chimera; the original fossil actually consisting of multiple animal remains (including an ornithosuchid and prolacertiformes (both ancient reptiles), and a saurischian (a "lizard hipped" dinosaur)). If part of the fossil (specifically, an ankle bone) is indeed saurischian, then this may one of the oldest basal saurischians known and should be correctly classified.
The possible basal saurischian ankle bone (astragalus), described as A. maleriensis.
Image from Chatterjee, 1987.
Image from Chatterjee, 1987.
References
Chatterjee, S. 1987. A new theropod dinosaur from India with remarks on the Gondwana- Laurasia connection in the Late Cretaceous. In: McKenzie, G.D. (Ed.). Gondwana Six: Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, and Paleontology. Geophysical Monograph 41. Washington, D.C.: American Geophysical Union. Pp. 183–189.
Chatterjee, S. & Creisler, B.S. 1994. Alwalkeria (Theropoda) and Murturneria (Plesiosauria), new names for preoccupied Walkeria Chatterjee, 1987, and Turneria Chatterjee and Small, 1989. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 14(1): 142.
Remes, K. and Rauhut, O. W. M. 2005. The oldest Indian dinosaur Alwalkeria maleriensis Chatterjee revised: a chimera including remains of a basal saurischian; p. 218 in Kellner, A. W . A., Henriques, D .D. R. and Rodrigues, T. (eds.), II Congresso Latino-Americano de Paleontologie de Vertebrados. Boletim de Resumos. Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro.
Chatterjee, S. 1987. A new theropod dinosaur from India with remarks on the Gondwana- Laurasia connection in the Late Cretaceous. In: McKenzie, G.D. (Ed.). Gondwana Six: Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, and Paleontology. Geophysical Monograph 41. Washington, D.C.: American Geophysical Union. Pp. 183–189.
Chatterjee, S. & Creisler, B.S. 1994. Alwalkeria (Theropoda) and Murturneria (Plesiosauria), new names for preoccupied Walkeria Chatterjee, 1987, and Turneria Chatterjee and Small, 1989. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 14(1): 142.
Remes, K. and Rauhut, O. W. M. 2005. The oldest Indian dinosaur Alwalkeria maleriensis Chatterjee revised: a chimera including remains of a basal saurischian; p. 218 in Kellner, A. W . A., Henriques, D .D. R. and Rodrigues, T. (eds.), II Congresso Latino-Americano de Paleontologie de Vertebrados. Boletim de Resumos. Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro.
