First report of Megapnosaurus (Theropoda: Coelophysoidea) from China

The biota of the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation (Yunnan Province, China) is critical to understanding Early Jurassic tetrapod evolution and biogeography. Theropod dinosaur material from the Lufeng Formation remains enigmatic and poorly known. For this reason, any theropod material that can be unequivocally identifi ed as a particular taxon is valuable in understanding the theropod fauna of the Lufeng Formation. Here, two specimens are reported as being the fi rst record of the dinosaur Megapnosaurus from the Lufeng Formation, and the whole of Asia. The presence of Megapnosaurus from the Lufeng Formation, and the whole of Asia. The presence of Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus is consistent with previous work suggesting an Early Jurassic age for the Lufeng Formation. It also Megapnosaurus is consistent with previous work suggesting an Early Jurassic age for the Lufeng Formation. It also Megapnosaurus greatly extends the geographic range of the genus, and confi rms the pangeographic distribution of Early Jurassic terrestrial tetrapods.