Arthur Cruickshank (1975) was the first to show that Vulcanodon was indeed a sauropod, arguing that the fifth metatarsal bone was equally long as the remaining metatarsals, a condition seen in other sauropods but not in prosauropods.
Arthur Cruickshank (1975) a fost primul care a arătat că Vulcanodon a fost într-adevăr un sauropod, argumentând că al cincilea os metatarsian era egal cu celelalte oase metatarsiene rămase, o condiție văzută numai la sauropode, dar nu la prosauropode.