Redescription of Panguraptor (preprint)

[Jerry Harris]

A new preprint has been made available:

Zhang, Z., Dong, Q., Wang, T., You, H., and Wang, X. 2026. Redescription of the osteology and systematic of Panguraptor lufengensis (Neotheropoda: Coelophysoidea). ARPHA Preprints,  82 pp. DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e185559

ABSTRACT: Panguraptor lufengensis You et al., 2014 is the first Coelophysoidea

species that has been named in Asia. In previous studies, the description of holotype
lacked anatomical details, leaving inadequate amounts of information. In this research,
the anatomy is further described and the autapomorphic characters of P. lufengensis
are re-evaluated, expanding into a combination of six characters. Phylogenetic
analysis shows P. lufengensis is an early-branching member of the superfamily
Coelophysoidea, indicating a yet to be uncovered ghost lineage of Coelophysoidea in
East Asia.

Available at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395132812_Redescription_of_the_osteology_and_systematic_of_Panguraptor_lufengensis_Neo-theropoda_Coelophysoidea

[Mickey Mortimer]

Wow, this desperately needs editing by someone familiar with English...

Mickey Mortimer

[Tim Williams]

The preprint contains some odd nomenclatural stuff.  According to the authors, "the genus name _Megapnosaurus_ is considered obsolete, we will refere [sic] this species as "_Coelophysis” rhodesiensis_".  The name _Megapnosaurus_ is not actually obsolete (though it would be if Case 3894 gets up, and _Syntarsus_ Raath, 1969 comes back).  The name just tends to be ignored, for reasons discussed in previous threads.  Hence "_Coelophysis” rhodesiensis_ as a placeholder name.

And although Zhang &c don't actually state this, I get the impression that they regard _S. kayentakatae_ as the type species of _Syntarsus_.  Of course, _S. rhodesiensis_ is the type species for Raath's genus _Syntarsus_.  As a referred species, _S. kayentakatae_ is in a sort of limbo.  It might turn out to be the same taxon as _Kayentavenator elysiae_, in which case the genus and species would be _Kayentavenator kayentakatae_.  Otherwise, _S. kayentakatae_ is currently a species without a genus.