View source for Projoanusaurus

{{Taxobox 
| name = ''Projoanusaurus''
| fossil_range = {{wpl|Mid Jurassic}}, <br/>{{Geological range|165|160}}  
| image = Sinosaurus_triassicus.JPG
| image_caption = Mounted ''P. palmensis'' skeleton cast, [[Vollardie Paleontological Museum]]
| image_upright = 1.15
| regnum            = {{wp|Animalia}}
| phylum            = {{wp|Chordata}}
| classis            = {{wp|Dinosauria}}
| ordo               = {{wp|Theropoda}}
| familia            = [[Joanusaurid|Joanusauroidae]]
| genus             = '''''Projoanusaurus'''''
| genus_authority   = [[Stephan Weitzmann|Weitzmann]], 1979<ref>Weitzmann, Stephan: ''A most basal ''Joanusauroid'' of mid-Jurrasic Urcea'', [[University of Collinebourg]], 1979.</ref>
| type_species = {{extinct}}'''''Projoanusaurus palmensis'''''
| type_species_authority = [[Stephan Weitzmann|Weitzmann]], 1979
| subdivision_ranks =
| subdivision_ref = 
| subdivision = 
}}
'''''Projoanusaurus''''' is an extinct genus of basal [[Joanusaurid|joanusauroid]] {{wp|Theropoda|theropod}} {{wp|Dinosauria|dinosaur}} from the mid-{{wp|Jurassic}} period of [[Sarpolevantia]] with proportionally large limbs to its slender body. Generally considered the very first of the [[Joanusaurus|joanusauroids]],<ref>Kalthorn, Erwin: ''Cladistic analysis of the joanusauroids and their immediate ancestry'', [[University of Gabion]], 2012.</ref> ''Projoanusaurus'' is known from a single species, '''''Projoanusaurus palmensis''''', literally "before ''[[Joanusaurus]]'' named for Palmen" after [[Yonderian people|Yonderian]] actor [[Hector Palmen]].<ref>Weitzmann, Stephan: ''A most basal ''Joanusauroid'' of mid-Jurrasic Urcea'', [[University of Collinebourg]], 1979.</ref>

Being a basal [[Joanusaurid|joanusauroid]], ''Projoanusaurus'' would have lived in the mid-Jurassic of [[Sarpolevantia]] alongside the numerous {{wp|Sauropoda|sauropodomorphs}}, {{wp|Ornithischia|ornithischians}} and other {{wp|Theropoda|theropods}} of the period. As a basal [[Joanusaurid|joanusauroid]], ''Projoanusaurus'' would have had a triangular-shaped pubic boot, a common trait among all joanuauroids, as well as [[Sarponychid|sarponychids]], three fingers on either hand, a femur larger than its tibia and chevron bases on their tails that had anterior and posterior bone growth. Most notably however, ''Projoanusaurus'' would have sported two large crests running parallel along the nasal bones on top of its skull, more than likely a socio-sexual signalling structure.<ref>Horner, David: ''Social and sexual signalling in theropods'', [[University of Collinebourg]], 1999. Pg. 22-24.</ref> ''Projoanusaurus'' would have measured around 3-4 meters (10-13 ft) in length at adult and weighed about {{convert|400–550|kg|lb}}.<ref>de Blaise, Anton: ''Mass estimates in derived joanusaurids'', [[University of Collinebourg]], 2007.</ref>

First discovered in 1977 in [[Cape Aedan]], [[Urcea]], ''Projoanusaurus'' is now known from more than two dozen specimens of which about half are considered "good".<ref>Himmelreich, Ewald: ''Joanusauroid taxonomy of the late 20th century'', [[University of Sainte-Catherine]], 1999.</ref> The comparative lack of specimens as opposed to later [[Joanusaurid|joanusauroids]] is thought to be a result of the comparatively poor fossil-bearing rocks of the mid-Jurassic of [[Levantia]].<ref>Konsaháken, Vurdhan: ''Paleogeology of Great Kiravia'', [[University of Belarus]], pg. 99-105. 2012.</ref>

==Phylogeny==
[[File:Sinosaurus_triassicus_skull.JPG|thumb|Close-up of ''Projoanusaurus''' skull showing the prominent head crests]]
Widespread paleontological consensus places ''Projoanusaurus'' as the earliest, most basal [[Joanusaurus|joanusauroid]] in taxonomic phylogenies for the clade.<ref>Kalthorn, Erwin: ''Cladistic analysis of the joanusauroids and their immediate ancestry'', [[University of Gabion]], 2012.</ref> This is based largely on the traits it shares with later joanusauroids and also with its seemingly more basal stage of evolution compared with the closely related ''[[Magnalophosaurus]]'' which is oterwhise very close to ''Projoanusaurus'' in age. ''Projoanusaurus''' taxonomic tree thus looks as such:

{{clade| style=font-size:100%;line-height:80%
|label1=[[Joanusaurid|Joanusauroidae]]
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Projoanusaurus]]''[[File:Guanlong_wucaii_by_durbed_flipped.jpg|100px]]
|2={{clade
   |1=''[[Magnalophosaurus]]''[[File:Monolophosaurus jiangi jmallon (flipped).jpg|100 px]]
   |2={{clade
      |1=[[Sarponychid|Sarponychidae]][[File:Torvosaurus tanner DBi.jpg|120px]]
      |label2=Joanusauridae
      |2={{clade
         |1=''[[Everardtadens]]''[[File:Piatnitzkysaurus_floresi_by_Paleocolour.jpg|120px]]
         |2={{clade
            |1=''[[Joanusaurus]]''[[File:Allosaurus Revised.jpg|120px]]
            |2={{clade
               |1=''[[Kubantadens]]''[[File:Kubantadens.png|120px]]
               |2=''[[Metriacanthonychus]]''[[File:Metriacanthosaurus.jpg|100px]]
               |3={{clade
                  |1=''[[Vollardisaurus]]''[[File:Acrocanthosaurus_BW.jpg|120px]]
                  |label2=Joanusaurinae
                  |2={{clade
                     |1=''[[Sentinellasaurus]]''[[File:Neovenator.png|120px]]
                     |2={{clade
                        |1=''[[Siegmarsaurus]]''[[File:Carcharodontosaurus.png|120px]]
                        |2={{clade
                        |1=''[[Velocivenator]]''[[File:Australovenator_reconstruction.jpg|100px]]
                        |2={{clade
                           |1=''[[Levaretyrannus]]''[[File:Acrocanthosaurus_restoration.jpg|120px]]
}} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }}

==See also==
* [[Joanusaurid]]s
* [[Paleontology in Yonderre]]
* [[History of paleontology]]

==Notes==

[[Category:Joanusaurid]]
[[Category:Paleontology]]
[[Category:University of Collinebourg]]
[[Category:Yonderre]]
[[Category:IXWB]]