Pronunciation: AY-vi-pees
Meaning: Bird foot
Author/s: von Huene (1932)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Dillstedt, Germany
Discovery Chart Position: #161
Avipes dillstedtianus
Avipes dillstedtianus, from Middle Triassic Lettenkohlensandstein deposits near Dillstedt, Germany, was named "bird foot" and classified as a ceratosaur by Friedrich von Huene based upon three articulated but terribly hard to diagnose metatarsals.
These foot bones don't seem to be the property of a bird or a dinosaur, or a bird-like dinosaur, and have as much chance of belonging to a pterosaur or crocodilian. Rauhut and Hungerbuhler tagged it an "indeterminate archosaur" in 2000 and this, my friends, is as specific as its classification will ever get barring new discoveries.
These foot bones don't seem to be the property of a bird or a dinosaur, or a bird-like dinosaur, and have as much chance of belonging to a pterosaur or crocodilian. Rauhut and Hungerbuhler tagged it an "indeterminate archosaur" in 2000 and this, my friends, is as specific as its classification will ever get barring new discoveries.
(Bird foot of Dillstedt)Etymology
Avipes is derived from the Latin "avis" (bird) and "pes" (foot).The species epithet, dillstedtianus, combines "Dillstedt" (the fossil site in Thuringia, Germany) with the Latin "ianus" (which can mean "belonging to" or "coming from" or "involved with").
