Effigia

Ef-e-gee-ah.
Published on

Lilah Turner

Evolutionary Biologist

Lilah Turner investigates how prehistoric animals adapted to changing environments, offering insights into evolution's mechanisms.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Effigia (Ghost).

Phonetic

Ef-e-gee-ah.

Named By

Sterling J. Nesbitt & Mark Norell - 2006.

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Diapsida, Archosauromorpha, Crurotarsi, Rauisuchia, Poposauridae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

E. okeeffeae

Size

2 meters long.

Known locations

USA, New Mexico, Chinle Formation, Ghost Ranch.

Time Period

Triassic.

Fossil representation

1 almost complete skeleton, 3 partial skeletons.

In Depth

       Although Effigia resembles and ornithomimid dinosaur, it is thought that this is just a case of convergent evolution. Later studies have suggested that Effigia is the same creature as the archosaur Chatterjeea and that both are synonymous with the archosaur Shuvosaurus.

       The type specimen is named after the renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe, whose ashes were scattered at Ghost Ranch.

Further Reading

– Extreme convergence in the body plans of an early suchian (Archosauria) and ornithomimid dinosaurs (Theropoda). – Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. – S. J. Nesbitt& M. A. Norell – 2006. – The anatomy of Effigia okeeffeae (Archosauria, Suchia), theropod-like convergence, and the distribution of related taxa. – Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 302: 84 pp. – S. Nesbitt – 2007.

Never Miss a New Species or Fossil Discovery!

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Titanoboa Illustration