Early Jurassic Africa from the Dinosaur Collector
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Sauropodomoroh prosauropods were abundant during the Early Jurassic, accompanied by theropods such as Syntarsus, the earliest sauropods (Vulcanodon), and the first heterodontosaurids.
Melanorosaurus is a sauropodomorph with some prosauropod and sauropod. This bulky, heavy plant eater was originally thought to have walked on all fours on massive pillar-like legs. More recent work suggests that it may have been bipedal. It was one of the largest of the early dinosaurs. Small ornithischians and theropods are the most common dinosaurs.
Heterodontosaurus was light and fast with powerful arms, sharp claws and tusks in both jaws used for defence against enemies such as the coelophysid Syntarsus. Its jaw contained 3 different types of teeth, including close-packed, long-crowned, ridged cheek teeth, and a pair of large tusks between the small chopping teeth at the front of the mouth and the larger, fatter cheek teeth. Tooth wear shows that its jaws could chew from side to side as well as up and down.
Lesothosaurus may be a juvenile and the adults may be represented by Stormbergia. Stormbergia, 7 feet long is considerably larger than other basal ornithischians from southern Africa. Most ornithischians and theropods are small.