Theropod distal femur illustrated by Robert Plot

[DD1991]

Everyone probably knows the theropod distal femur from the Taynton Limestone Formation of Oxfordshire that was illustrated by Robert Plot in 1677 and thought to be from a Roman war elephant or biblical giant, and which was dubbed " humanum"* by Richard Brookes in 1763. However, even though the femur illustrated by Plot (now missing) has often been considered to belong to Megalosaurus, but as noted in Halstead and Sarjeant (1993), this femur might belong to a theropod other than Megalosaurus, as Duriavenator, Magnosaurus, Iliosuchus, and Cruxicheiros co-existed lived in the same time and region as Megalosaurus.

 

*" humanum" was not a binomial, but instead an anatomical label; see Halstead and Sarjeant (1993).

 

Halstead, L. B.; Sarjeant, W. A. S. (1993). humanum Brookes - the earliest name for a dinosaur. Modern Geology 18: 221–224.

 

[Emthegem]

That's some very nice cross hatching wow!

[jpc]

This was originally thought tobe pertified male parts.  If this is not allowed in a family forum, please feel free to edit as needed.