Agnosphitys

obscure ancestor

• agnos · Greek · unknown, obscure
• phitys · Greek · ancestor, progenitor

The name combines Greek roots meaning "unknown" or "obscure" and "ancestor". It refers to the fragmentary, poorly known nature of the fossils and to the animal's possible position near the base of the dinosaur family tree. The type species, A. cromhallensis, is named for Cromhall Quarry, where the remains were found.

Named by

Fraser et al.

Year named

2002

Period

Late Triassic

Found in

Cromhall Quarry, Gloucestershire, England, UK

Known from fragmentary remains in a fissure-fill deposit. Its classification has been debated: it was first described as an early dinosaur, and some analyses have instead placed it among silesaurids or other early dinosauriforms. The etymology is given from memory, so treat the exact wording of the Greek roots as moderately certain.