| Tuebingosaurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Diagram showing known bones | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Massopoda |
| Genus: | †Tuebingosaurus Regalado Fernández & Werneburg, 2022 |
| Type species | |
| †Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum Regalado Fernández & Werneburg, 2022 | |
Tuebingosaurus (meaning "Tübingen lizard") is an extinct genus ofmassopodansauropodomorph dinosaur from theLate TriassicTrossingen Formation of Germany. The genus contains asingle species,Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum, originally identified as a specimen ofPlateosaurus.[1]
The holotype, GPIT-PV-30787, also known as "GPIT IV", is a partial postcranial skeleton. It was discovered in 1922 and stored in the paleontological collection of the University of Tübingen. It was originally assigned to the speciesGresslyosaurus plieningeri.[2] Later, it was considered an exemplar ofPlateosaurus, sometimes being used as reference materials for phylogenetic analyses using its name. However, it actually contains several features with more derived sauropodomorphs, which allowed it to be named as the distinct taxonTuebingosaurus maierfritzorum in 2022. The generic name, "Tuebingosaurus", honors the city of Tübingen while the specific name, "maierfritzorum", refers to both Uwe Fritz and Wolfgang Maier; the former is an editor at the journalVertebrate Zoology which hosted aFestschrift honoring Maier; its description was a part of this academic event.[1]
In their 2025 review of Triassic reptile fossils from Germany, Sues & Schoch claimed that additional review of the holotype revealed that the characters used to distinguishTuebingosaurus from other sauropodomorphs were based on damaged bones. As such, they regarded the species as anomen dubium, pending additional research on the material.[3]
Although its describers only assigned it as a massopodan sauropodomorph, they also performed a phylogenetic analysis which placed it within the Sauropoda proper, possibly close toSchleitheimia.[1]
The Trossingen Formation was originally interpreted as a synchronic deposit of animals, but is now considered to be a constant accumulation of mired carcasses that were deposited over hundreds of years by a river. Other specimens from this deposit include the theropodLiliensternus and several sauropodomorphs assigned toPlateosaurus and several associated names, which are in need of revision.[1]
