Shringasaurus indicus
- Rodrigo
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Age
Triassic（Anisian）
247-242 Ma
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Allokotosauria
Family: Azendohsauridae
Genus: Shringasaurus
Species: Shringasaurus indicus
Morphological description
Shringasaurus indicus possessed a body plan reminiscent of a large monitor lizard, combined with a skull superficially similar to that of a ceratosaur, and a neck and dentition convergent with those of sauropodomorph dinosaurs. The forelimbs were longer than the hind limbs, accompanied by an elongated scapula, a posteriorly oriented shoulder joint, and laterally extended hind limbs. The total body length was approximately 3–4 meters .
The neck was elongate, composed of multiple cervical vertebrae, forming a structure comparable to that of early long-necked herbivores . The teeth were leaf-shaped with prominent denticles, closely resembling herbivorous archosauromorph dentition, an adaptation well suited for cropping vegetation such as tall ferns .
A defining feature of this species is the presence of a pair of greatly enlarged supraorbital horns formed by the extension of the brow region. These horns project anterodorsally and are conical in shape, closely resembling those of later ceratopsian dinosaurs . Fossil evidence indicates the existence of two distinct skull morphs, suggesting sexual dimorphism, with horns likely functioning in intraspecific display or combat .
Etymology
The genus name Shringasaurus means "horned lizard", derived from the Sanskrit śṛṅga (horn) and the Greek sauros (lizard). The species name indicus refers to India, the country where the fossils were discovered .
Biological description
Shringasaurus indicus lived during the early Middle Triassic (Anisian stage) within the Denwa Formation of central India . It belongs to Allokotosauria within Archosauromorpha, representing a basal lineage closely related to the ancestors of archosaurs, rather than true archosaurs themselves .
Despite its robust and somewhat intimidating appearance, Shringasaurus indicus was fully herbivorous. Its leaf-shaped teeth and jaw structure indicate a diet composed of plant material, and it likely occupied the ecological role of a dominant herbivore in its environment prior to the rise of sauropodomorph dinosaurs . The presence of cranial horns, coupled with their variability among individuals, strongly suggests sexual dimorphism and supports the hypothesis that these structures were shaped by sexual selection, possibly used in combat or display behaviors .
From a paleopathological perspective, Shringasaurus indicus is particularly informative. Fossil specimens from the Denwa Formation include individuals exhibiting fused cervical vertebrae, indicating pathological conditions such as congenital malformation, spondyloarthropathy, or infectious processes . In one documented case, two adjacent cervical vertebrae were fused, and a fracture callus suggests the animal experienced bone trauma during its lifetime . These findings demonstrate that early archosauromorphs were affected by diseases comparable to those observed in later dinosaurs and modern vertebrates.
（Author: Rodrigo）
References
Sengupta, S.; Ezcurra, M.D.; Bandyopadhyay, S. (2017). "A new horned and long-necked herbivorous stem-archosaur from the Middle Triassic of India". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 8366. Bibcode:2017NatSR...7.8366S. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-08658-8
Sengupta, S. (2018). "Fusion of cervical vertebrae from a basal archosauromorph from the Middle Triassic Denwa Formation, Satpura Gondwana Basin, India". International Journal of Paleopathology. 20: 80–84. doi:10.1016/j.ijpp.2017.10.010. PMID 29496220
23, 77
Comments