A Juvenile Specimen of Sauropodomorpha from the Lower Jurassic of China and a Brief Review of the Lufeng Sauropodomorph Fauna

An incomplete dinosaur skeleton, including a partial skull, recently discovered from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Yunnan, China, is here reported. Apart its small size, little anatomical evidence supports, priori, non-adult status this new sauropodomorph specimen but osteohistological analyses suggest that it fast-growing juvenile. This represents only second occurrence juvenile non-sauropodan in Basin. The anatomy does not match other immature specimens; although cranial material preserved, display diagnostic characters early sauropodomorphs same horizon, namely Lufengosaurus, Yizhousaurus and Yunnanosaurus. Our phylogenetic analysis places position relatively distant Chinese sauropodomorphs, corroborates showing referable to any known species already excavated Yunnan. result interpreted with caution considering ontogeny affects reconstruction. A thorough comparison adult forms, taking into account ontogeny-related characters, suggests might represent previously unknown sauropodomorph.