Ruehleia

Ruehleia is an extinct genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Late Triassic period (Norian stage), approximately 210 million years ago. It is known from fossils discovered in Germany. Ruehleia is classified within the Plateosauridae family.

Discovery and Naming:

The holotype specimen, and currently only known material of Ruehleia, was discovered in Thuringia, Germany. The genus is named in honor of Hugo Ruehle von Lilienstern, a prominent German paleontologist who collected and studied many early dinosaur fossils, including the bones of Ruehleia.

Description:

Ruehleia was a relatively large sauropodomorph for its time, estimated to have reached a length of around 6-8 meters. Like other plateosaurids, it was likely a herbivore or omnivore, possessing a long neck, a relatively small head, a robust body, and strong hind limbs. Details about its anatomy remain limited due to the incomplete nature of the fossil remains.

Classification:

Ruehleia is classified as a member of the Plateosauridae, a family of early sauropodomorphs that also includes the more well-known genus Plateosaurus. Plateosaurids were among the first large-bodied dinosaurs and represent an important stage in the evolution of sauropods, the giant long-necked herbivores that dominated terrestrial ecosystems later in the Mesozoic Era. The precise relationships of Ruehleia within Plateosauridae are still debated.