BERNARD PRICE INSTITUTE FOR PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Abstract
Additional anatomical details of the palate and lower jaw of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus Owen are documented on the
basis of a previously undescribed skull from the upper Elliot Formation. The palate is generally similar to that of other early
sauropodomorphs, but can be shown to differ from those of Plateosaurus, Lufengosaurus and Thecodontosaurus in several respects. For
example, Massospondylus lacks the well-developed palatine boss seen in Plateosaurus and the pneumatic recess that is present on the
ectopterygoid of Thecodontosaurus. In addition, Massospondylus possesses an expanded medioventral premaxillary process that is much
larger than that of any other basal sauropodomorph.The Royal Society of London and the
Palaeontological Research Fund of the Natural History Museu
