Vulcanodontidae
| Vulcanodontidae | |
|---|---|
|   | |
| Models of Vulcanodon in Poland | |
| Scientific classification   | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Chordata | 
| Class: | Reptilia | 
| Clade: | Dinosauria | 
| Clade: | Saurischia | 
| Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha | 
| Clade: | †Sauropoda | 
| Clade: | †Gravisauria | 
| Family: | † Cooper, 1984 | 
| Genera | |
| Synonyms | |
| 
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The Early Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs Zizhongosaurus, Barapasaurus, Tazoudasaurus, and Vulcanodon may form a natural group of basal sauropods called the Vulcanodontidae. Basal vulcanodonts include some of the earliest known examples of sauropods. The family-level name Vulcanodontidae was erected by M.R. Cooper in 1984.[1] In 1995 Hunt et al. published the opinion that the family is synonymous with the Barapasauridae.[2] One of the key morphological features specific to the family is an unusually narrow sacrum.
















