DOCSLIB.ORG

Redalyc.A New Titanosaur Sauropod from the Atacama Desert, Chile

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Redalyc.A New Titanosaur Sauropod from the Atacama Desert, Chile Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ISSN: 0001-3765 [email protected] Academia Brasileira de Ciências Brasil KELLNER, ALEXANDER W.A.; RUBILAR-ROGERS, DAVID; VARGAS, ALEXANDER; SUÁREZ, MARIO A new titanosaur sauropod from the Atacama Desert, Chile Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, vol. 83, núm. 1, marzo, 2011, pp. 211-219 Academia Brasileira de Ciências Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32717681010 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative “main” — 2011/2/10 — 15:28 — page 211 — #1 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2011) 83(1): 211-219 (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) Printed version ISSN 0001-3765 / Online version ISSN 1678-2690 www.scielo.br/aabc A new titanosaur sauropod from the Atacama Desert, Chile ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER1, DAVID RUBILAR-ROGERS2, ALEXANDER VARGAS3 and MARIO SUÁREZ4 1Setor de Paleovertebrados, Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil 2Área Paleontología, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Casilla 787, Santiago, Chile 3Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile 4Museo Paleontológico de Caldera, Av. Wheelwrigth 001, Caldera, Chile Manuscript received on December 22, 2010; accepted for publication on January 12, 2011 ABSTRACT Partial remains of a titanosaur sauropod collected in the Tolar Formation (Upper Cretaceous) at the Atacama Desert (Antofagasta Region), northern Chile, is described, and a new species, Atacamatitan chilensis gen. et sp. nov., is erected. The material consists mainly of dorsal and caudal vertebrae, part of a humerus and a femur. The presence of a titanosaur confirms the Cretaceous age for the outcrops of red sandstone of the Tolar Formation whose agewas previously uncertain, ranging from the Upper Cretaceous to the Paleocene. The new specimen represents the most complete dinosaur reported for this region and one of the most complete titanosaur known from Chile and the pacific margin of South America so far. Key words: Dinosauria, Titanosauria, Atacamatitan, Atacama Desert, Cretaceous, Chile. INTRODUCTION tiago) and the Museu Nacional/UFRJ (Rio de Janeiro) to the Antofagasta region. During this field activity, a The record of continental fossil vertebrates in Meso- site located about 150 km north of Calama town and zoic deposits of Chile is very rare. From these, although some 50 km east from El Abra cooper mine was dis- scarce, titanosaur sauropods are the best documented, covered (Vargas et al. 2000). The deposits in this area mostly limited to incomplete and isolated remains re- represent the Tolar Formation that consists of a sequence covered from only four localities, all from the north- of sedimentary clastic red rocks with intercalations of ern part of the country (Rubilar-Rogers 2003, 2005). conglomerates of the same color and brechas at the base They include the first report of non-avian dinosaur bones, (Maksaev 1978). Up to that time, the age inferred for consisting of an incomplete left scapula and coracoid, this formation had not been defined with precision, rang- and the distal end of a right humerus that were regarded ing from the Upper Cretaceous to the Paleocene. The as cf. Antarctosaurs wichmannianus and as Titanosauri- dinosaur specimen supports a Cretaceous age at least for dae indet., respectively (Casamiquela et al. 1969). the outcrops of the Tolar Formation near Conchi Viejo In order to prospect for continental Mesozoic tetra- town, where the dinosaur site is located. pod fossils in Chile, contacts between Chilean and The year thereafter (July, 2001), a second expedi- Brazilian researchers were established in 1998 and a tion continued to excavate the site. This activity resulted preliminary expedition during February 2000 was orga- in what is the second most complete titanosaur dinosaur nized by the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (San- recovered from Chile so far (a more complete specimen Proceedings of the Third Gondwanan Dinosaur Symposium is known from III Región de Copiapó, D. Rubilar-Rogers Correspondence to: Alexander Wilhelm Armin Kellner et al., unpublished data.). The material was collected in E-mail: [email protected] An Acad Bras Cienc (2011) 83 (1) “main” — 2011/2/10 — 15:28 — page 212 — #2 212 ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER, DAVID RUBILAR-ROGERS, ALEXANDER VARGAS and MARIO SUÁREZ a surface of 2 m2 and is regarded as representing one acuminate posteriorly*; ventral surface of the dorsal ver- individual, which is described here. tebra strongly concave*; posterior caudals with a lat- erally compressed neural spine that bears a blade-like SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY anterior margin*; femur with the shaft getting gradually Dinosauria Owen, 1842 narrower until two thirds of its length*. Sauropoda Marsh, 1878 Titanosauria Bonaparte & Coria, 1993 DESCRIPTION AND COMPARISONS Titanosauriformes Salgado et al., 1997 When the site was found, the first specimen of Ataca- Titanosauridae Lydekker, 1893 matitan chilensis gen. et sp. nov. to be recognized was Atacamatitan gen. nov. the femur, which was eroding on the surface. Subse- quently, other bones were excavated, including several Etymology: Atacama, from the desert where the spec- fragments. Some are slightly distorted due to taphon- imen was found, and Titan, which relates to a group of omy, but their original shape can be established without Greek divinities. difficulty. The bones have a reddish color and are quite Type species: Atacamatitan chilensis sp. nov., type by heavy, a result of extensive permineralization. monotypy. Only two dorsal vertebrae were recovered. They are incomplete, with the neural arches only partially pre- Recorded temporal and stratigraphic range: Upper served. Both are opisthocoelic, lacking hyposphene- Cretaceous, Tolar Formation. hypantrum as in several members of the Titanosauridae Diagnosis: As for the type and only known species. (e.g., Salgado et al. 1997). In SGO-PV-961a (Figs. 1A, B) the centrum is remarkably opisthocoelic, with the an- Atacamatitan chilensis sp. nov. terior articulation more convex in lateral view than in SGO-PV-961b. Also, in the former, the centrum is more Etymology: In allusion to Chile, the country where the elongated. It bears on the lateral side developed pleu- specimen was found. rocoels that are more rounded and less elongated com- Holotype: The material includes a right femur, the pared with other titanosaurids. These pleurocoels do proximal end of a humerus, two dorsal vertebrae, pos- not acuminate posteriorly in the preserved elements of terior caudal vertebrae, dorsal ribs and a fragmentary the new species, contrary to what is observed in several element regarded as part of the sternum, besides other other members of this clade (e.g., Trigonosaurus, see incomplete bones, all housed at the Sección Paleonto- also Calvo et al. 2007b). The main axis of the pleuro- logía, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, under the coel has 83 mm and occupies a dorsal position in the number SGO-PV-961 (Figs. 1-4). A cast of one caudal centrum. The neural arch is broken and only part of the vertebra (MN 7232-V) is deposited in the Museu Na- peduncles is preserved. Their attachment to the centrum cional/UFRJ (Rio de Janeiro). is longer than the total length of the pleurocoels. The Occurrence: The material comes from an outcrop near centrodiapophyseal lamina is undivided. Together with Conchi Viejo town, Atacama Desert, Antofagasta Re- the peduncles, this lamina is inclined anteriorly. gion, and was collected in a surface of 2 m2. Judging from the preserved portion, the neural arch is wider than high. There is no evidence of the para- Recorded temporal and stratigraphic range: Upper pophyses at the centrum or at the lower portion of the Cretaceous, Tolar Formation. neural arch indicating that this is a middle or posterior Diagnosis: Titanosaurid dinosaur with the following dorsal vertebra. The ventral margin of the centrum is combination of characters that distinguishes it from other concave. Posteriorly, the centrum bears a pronounced members of this clade (autapomorphies are marked with excavation. an asterisk): centrum of dorsal vertebrae pierced by The second preserved dorsal vertebra of Atacama- pleurocoels, which are rounded or elliptical but do not titan chilensis (SGO-PV-961b, Figs. 1C, D) is antero- An Acad Bras Cienc (2011) 83 (1) “main” — 2011/2/10 — 15:28 — page 213 — #3 A NEW TITANOSAUR SAUROPOD FROM THE ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE 213 Fig. 1 – Atacamatitan chilensis gen. et sp. nov., lateral and anterior views of dorsal vertebrae of SGO.PV. 961a (A, B) and SGO-PV-961b (C,D). Scale bars: 50 mm. posteriorly compressed. The neural arch is not complete in the preserved base of the neural arch. The pleuro- and only the peduncles, the prezygapophyses and part coel is circular and deep. The most proximal part of the of the left diapophysis are preserved. The base of the diapophyses presents an inclination of 30◦. The poste- peduncles is long and covers almost the total length of rior face of the centrum is less excavated than in SGO- the centrum. There is little distance between both prezy- PV-961a. The short inter-prezygapophyseal distance, the gapophyses, forming, in anterior view, an angle of ap- reduced excavation of the posterior centrum face, the proximately 35◦. Part of the prezygapophyseal lamina dorsolaterally projected transverse process and the ab- is preserved in the left prezygapophysis. There is no sence of the parapophyses suggest that this vertebra evidence of parapophyses situated on the centrum or belongs to the posterior part of the dorsal series. An Acad Bras Cienc (2011) 83 (1) “main” — 2011/2/10 — 15:28 — page 214 — #4 214 ALEXANDER W.A.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Basal Lithostrotian Titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) with a Complete Skull: Implications for the Evolution and Paleobiology of Titanosauria
    RESEARCH ARTICLE A Basal Lithostrotian Titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) with a Complete Skull: Implications for the Evolution and Paleobiology of Titanosauria Rubén D. F. Martínez1*, Matthew C. Lamanna2, Fernando E. Novas3, Ryan C. Ridgely4, Gabriel A. Casal1, Javier E. Martínez5, Javier R. Vita6, Lawrence M. Witmer4 1 Laboratorio de Paleovertebrados, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina, 2 Section of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America, 3 Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America, 5 Hospital Regional de Comodoro Rivadavia, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina, 6 Resonancia Magnética Borelli, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina * [email protected] OPEN ACCESS Citation: Martínez RDF, Lamanna MC, Novas FE, Ridgely RC, Casal GA, Martínez JE, et al. (2016) A Basal Lithostrotian Titanosaur (Dinosauria: Abstract Sauropoda) with a Complete Skull: Implications for the Evolution and Paleobiology of Titanosauria. PLoS We describe Sarmientosaurus musacchioi gen. et sp. nov., a titanosaurian sauropod dino- ONE 11(4): e0151661. doi:10.1371/journal. saur from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian—Turonian) Lower Member of the Bajo Bar- pone.0151661 real Formation of southern Chubut Province in
    [Show full text]
  • VERTEBRAL COLUMN from the BAURU GROUP, LATE CRETACEOUS of BRAZIL 567 Compatible Size
    Arquivos do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, v.63, n.3, p.565-593, jul./set.2005 ISSN 0365-4508 ON A TITANOSAURID (DINOSAURIA, SAUROPODA) VERTEBRAL COLUMN FROM THE BAURU GROUP, LATE CRETACEOUS OF BRAZIL 1 (With 39 figures) DIOGENES DE ALMEIDA CAMPOS 2, 3 ALEXANDER W. A. KELLNER 3, 4 REINALDO J. BERTINI 5 RODRIGO M. SANTUCCI 5 ABSTRACT: A new titanosaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous continental deposits of the Bauru Group is described. Trigonosaurus pricei n.gen., n.sp., is based on two specimens, both collected at the Caieira Quarry near Peirópolis, Minas Gerais. The holotype consists of the five most posterior cervical vertebrae, 10 dorsals, six sacrals and the left ilium (MCT 1488-R). The second specimen (paratype) consists of 10 caudal vertebrae that according to a quarry map, were found isolated but show a similar morphology and compatible size suggesting that they belonged to one individual (MCT 1719-R). Trigonosaurus pricei is diagnosed by a combination of characters such as elongated cervicals and middorsals, dorsal vertebrae 9 and 10 with incipient postzygodiapophyseal lamina and transverse processes well developed throughout the sequence formed by anterior and medial caudals. The occurrence of this new taxon indicates a higher diversity of titanosaurids in the Brazil during the Cretaceous period. Key words: Dinosauria, Sauropoda, Titanosauria, Titanosauridae, Cretaceous, Brazil. RESUMO: Sobre uma coluna vertebral de um titanossaurídeo (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) do grupo Bauru, Neocretáceo do Brasil. Um novo titanossaurídeo procedente dos depósitos continentais do grupo Bauru (Neocretáceo) é descrito. Trigonosaurus pricei n.gen., n.sp. é baseado em dois exemplares coletados na localidade Caieira na região de Peirópolis, Minas Gerais.
    [Show full text]
  • (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Transbaikalia, Russia
    FULL COMMUNICATION PALAEONTOLOGY A new lithostrotian titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Transbaikalia, Russia Alexander Averianov a, b and Pavel Skutschas c a Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation; [email protected], [email protected] b Department of Sedimentary Geology, Institute of Earth Sciences, Saint Petersburg State Univer- sity, 16th Liniya V. O., 29, St. Petersburg, 199178, Russian Federation c Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation; [email protected] Address correspondence and requests for materials to Alexander Averianov Abstract Tengrisaurus starkovi, gen. et sp. nov., is described based on three caudal verte- brae from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian?) Murtoi Formation at Mogoito locality, near Gusinoe Lake in Buryatia, Russia. The new taxon is characterized by strongly procoelous anterior and middle caudal vertebrae, with strongly developed pre-epi- pophyses, highly pneumatic neural spine, and solid bone structure of the centrum. The reweighted phylogenetic analysis places the new taxon as a non-saltasau- rid lithostrotian titanosaur (Sauropoda). This is one of the oldest fossil records of Lithostrotia and Titanosauria, which suggests a long and unexplored evolution of titanosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of Asia. Keywords: Dinosauria, Sauropoda, Titanosauria, Lithostrotia, Early Cretaceous, Transbaikalia, Russia Citation: Averianov, A. and Skutschas, P. 2017. A new lithostrotian titanosaur (Dinosauria, Introduction Sauropoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Transbaikalia, Russia. Bio. Comm. 62(1): 6–18. The first Russian dinosaur, the theropod “Allosaurus” sibiricus, was found in the doi: 10.21638/11701/spbu03.2017.102 Lower Cretaceous strata of Transbaikalia (Riabinin, 1914; Ivanov, 1940).
    [Show full text]
  • Paleodest - Paleontologia Em Destaque, V
    v. 36, n. 74, 2021 Paleodest - Paleontologia em Destaque, v. 36, n. 74, 2021 1 SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE PALEONTOLOGIA Presidente: Dr. Renato Pirani Ghilardi (UNESP/Bauru) Vice-Presidente: Dr. Rodrigo Miloni Santucci (UnB) 1ª Secretária: Dra. Sônia Maria Oliveira Agostinho da Silva (UFPE) 2º Secretário: Msc. Victor Rodrigues Ribeiro (UNESP/Bauru) 1º Tesoureiro: Msc. Marcos César Bissaro Júnior (USP/Ribeirão Preto) 2º Tesoureiro: Dr. Hermínio Ismael de Araújo Junior (UERJ) Diretor de Publicações: Dr. Sandro Marcelo Scheffler (MN/UFRJ) PALEODEST - PALEONTOLOGIA EM DESTAQUE Boletim Informativo da Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia Corpo Editorial Editor-chefe Sandro Marcelo Scheffler Editora de Honra Ana Maria Ribeiro, Museu de Ciências Naturais/SEMA-RS Conselho Editorial Hermínio Ismael de Araújo Júnior, Professor da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/UERJ Rafael Costa da Silva, Pesquisador do Serviço Geológico do Brasil/CPRM Paula Andrea Sucerquia Rendón, Professora da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/UFPE Cláudia Pinto Machado, Pesquisadora colaboradora da Universidade Federal de Roraima/UFRR Renato Pirani Ghilardi, Professor da Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho/UNESP Conselho Científico Annie Schmaltz Hsiou, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brasil Antonio Carlos Sequeira Fernandes, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MN/UFRJ), Brasil Cecília Amenabar, Departamento de Geologia, Universidade de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina Cesar Schultz, Departamento de Geologia, Universidade
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.Angolatitan Adamastor, a New Sauropod Dinosaur and the First Record from Angola
    Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ISSN: 0001-3765 [email protected] Academia Brasileira de Ciências Brasil MATEUS, OCTÁVIO; JACOBS, LOUIS L.; SCHULP, ANNE S.; POLCYN, MICHAEL J.; TAVARES, TATIANA S.; BUTA NETO, ANDRÉ; MORAIS, MARIA LUÍSA; ANTUNES, MIGUEL T. Angolatitan adamastor, a new sauropod dinosaur and the first record from Angola Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, vol. 83, núm. 1, marzo, 2011, pp. 221-233 Academia Brasileira de Ciências Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32717681011 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative “main” — 2011/2/10 — 15:47 — page 221 — #1 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2011) 83(1): 221-233 (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) Printed version ISSN 0001-3765 / Online version ISSN 1678-2690 www.scielo.br/aabc Angolatitan adamastor, a new sauropod dinosaur and the first record from Angola , OCTÁVIO MATEUS1 2, LOUIS L. JACOBS3, ANNE S. SCHULP4, MICHAEL J. POLCYN3, TATIANA S. TAVARES5, ANDRÉ BUTA NETO5, MARIA LUÍSA MORAIS5 and MIGUEL T. ANTUNES6 1CICEGe, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, FCT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal 2Museu da Lourinhã, Rua João Luis de Moura, 2530-157 Lourinhã, Portugal 3Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA 4Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, de Bosquetplein 6-7, NL6211 KJ Maastricht, The Netherlands 5Geology Department, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Av.
    [Show full text]
  • From the Adamantina Formation, Bauru Group, Upper Cretaceous of Brazil and the Phylogenetic Relationships of Aeolosaurini
    Zootaxa 3085: 1–33 (2011) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2011 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) A new sauropod (Macronaria, Titanosauria) from the Adamantina Formation, Bauru Group, Upper Cretaceous of Brazil and the phylogenetic relationships of Aeolosaurini RODRIGO M. SANTUCCI1 & ANTONIO C. DE ARRUDA-CAMPOS2 1Universidade de Brasília - Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Brasília-DF, 73300-000, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] 2Museu de Paleontologia de Monte Alto, Praça do Centenário, s/n. Monte Alto-SP, 15910-000, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] Table of contents Abstract . 1 Introduction . 2 Historical background . 2 Geological setting . 4 Systematic Palaeontology . 4 DINOSAURIA Owen, 1842 . 4 SAURISCHIA Seeley, 1887 . 4 SAUROPODA Marsh, 1878 . 4 MACRONARIA Wilson and Sereno, 1998. 4 TITANOSAURIFORMES Salgado, Coria and Calvo, 1997b. 4 TITANOSAURIA Bonaparte and Coria, 1993 . 4 AEOLOSAURINI Franco-Rosas, Salgado, Rosas and Carvalho, 2004 . 5 Aeolosaurus Powell, 1987 . 5 Aeolosaurus rionegrinus Powell, 1987 . 5 Aeolosaurus maximus sp. nov. 6 Phylogenetic analysis . 17 Comparison and discussion . 19 Conclusions . 25 Acknowledgements . 25 References . 26 APPENDIX 1. 29 APPENDIX 2. 29 Abstract Remains of a new titanosaur, Aeolosaurus maximus sp. nov., from the Adamantina Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Bauru Group, São Paulo State of Brazil are described. The new species is represented by a single partially articulated skeleton and is characterized by having a well-developed posterior protuberance below the articular area on the anterior and middle haemal arches and a lateral bulge on the distal portion of the articular process of the mid-posterior haemal arches. It shares with other Aeolosaurus species the presence of prezygapophyses curved downward on anterior caudal vertebrae and hae- mal arches with double articular facets set in a concave posterodorsal surface.
    [Show full text]
  • Osteology of the Dorsal Vertebrae of the Giant Titanosaurian Sauropod Dinosaur Dreadnoughtus Schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina
    Rowan University Rowan Digital Works School of Earth & Environment Faculty Scholarship School of Earth & Environment 1-1-2017 Osteology of the dorsal vertebrae of the giant titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina Kristyn Voegele Rowan University Matt Lamanna Kenneth Lacovara Rowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://rdw.rowan.edu/see_facpub Part of the Anatomy Commons, Geology Commons, and the Paleontology Commons Recommended Citation Voegele, K.K., Lamanna, M.C., and Lacovara K.J. (2017). Osteology of the dorsal vertebrae of the giant titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62 (4): 667–681. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Earth & Environment at Rowan Digital Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in School of Earth & Environment Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Rowan Digital Works. Editors' choice Osteology of the dorsal vertebrae of the giant titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina KRISTYN K. VOEGELE, MATTHEW C. LAMANNA, and KENNETH J. LACOVARA Voegele, K.K., Lamanna, M.C., and Lacovara K.J. 2017. Osteology of the dorsal vertebrae of the giant titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62 (4): 667–681. Many titanosaurian dinosaurs are known only from fragmentary remains, making comparisons between taxa difficult because they often lack overlapping skeletal elements. This problem is particularly pronounced for the exceptionally large-bodied members of this sauropod clade. Dreadnoughtus schrani is a well-preserved giant titanosaurian from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) Cerro Fortaleza Formation of southern Patagonia, Argentina.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Giant Basal Titanosaur Sauropod in the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of the Neuquen Basin, Argentina
    Cretaceous Research 100 (2019) 61e81 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Cretaceous Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/CretRes A new giant basal titanosaur sauropod in the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of the Neuquen Basin, Argentina * Leonardo S. Filippi a, , Leonardo Salgado b, c, Alberto C. Garrido d, e a Museo Municipal Argentino Urquiza, Jujuy y Chaco s/n, 8319 Rincon de los Sauces, Neuquen, Argentina b CONICET, Argentina c Instituto de Investigacion en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro-Conicet, Av. Gral. J. A. Roca 1242, 8332 General Roca, Río Negro, Argentina d Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales “Profesor Dr. Juan A. Olsacher”, Direccion Provincial de Minería, Etcheluz y Ejercito Argentino, 8340 Zapala, Neuquen, Argentina e Departamento Geología y Petroleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, Neuquen 8300, provincia del Neuquen, Argentina article info abstract Article history: A new basal sauropod titanosaur, Kaijutitan maui gen. et sp. nov., is described. The holotype of this Received 21 November 2018 species, which comes from the Sierra Barrosa Formation (upper Coniacian, Upper Cretaceous), consists of Received in revised form cranial, axial, and appendicular elements presenting an unique combination of plesiomorphic and 3 February 2019 apomorphic characters. The most notable characteristic observed in Kaijutitan is the presence of anterior Accepted in revised form 9 March 2019 cervical vertebrae with bifid neural spines, a condition that would have evolved several times among Available online 28 March 2019 sauropods. The phylogenetic analysis places Kaijutitan as a basal titanosaur, the sister taxon of Epachthosaurus þ Eutitanosauria. The new species supports the coexistence, in the Late Cretaceous Keywords: Sauropoda (Turonian-Santonian), of basal titanosaurs and eutitanosaurian sauropods, at least in Patagonia.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of the Caudal Vertebral Series in Macronarian Sauropod Dinosaurs: Morphofunctional and Phylogenetic Implications
    Evolution of the Caudal Vertebral Series in Macronarian Sauropod Dinosaurs: Morphofunctional and Phylogenetic Implications A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University By Lucio Manuel Ibiricu In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy October 2010 © Copyright 2010 Lucio Manuel Ibiricu. All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION To the people who trusted me and my grandfather (Manolo) iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First of all, I want to thank my advisor, Dr. Lacovara, for several things: for admitting me in the program, for supporting me constantly, especially at the beginning of my experience in the United States and for exposing me to ―big‖ people in Paleontology. Ken gave me the opportunity to work and learn; I will always be grateful to him. I also thank Dr. Spotila, the head of my committee, for always supporting me and for helping in the organization, always very important during the PhD. I really appreciate it. In addition, I want to thank Dr. Dodson for accepting to be part of my committee. His presence is a privilege to me and it is an honor to say that he was part of my PhD committee. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Gallagher. He taught me the majority of my first courses at Drexel and I always learned a lot from him. Also, my first TA was under his supervision; therefore, I want to thank him for all the support he gave me both as student and as a TA. Likewise, I would like to thank Dr. Kilham, because her presence in my committee pushed me to learn more about ecology, which helped me integrate dinosaurs and their environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Overview of Sauropod Phylogeny and Evolution
    One Overview of Sauropod Phylogeny and Evolution Jeffrey A. Wilson SAUROPOD STUDIES FROM OWEN TO long bones” and “the toes being terminated by THE PRESENT strong claws” (Owen 1842:102), but this assess- ment was based on limited anatomical evidence This year marks the one hundred sixty-fourth (Owen 1875:27). Key data emerged with the dis- anniversary of Richard Owen’s (1841) description covery of abundant Cetiosaurus bones in of the first sauropod—Cetiosaurus, the “whale Oxfordshire by John Phillips. Thomas Huxley lizard”—on the basis of vertebrae and limb ele- examined this “splendid series of remains” ments from localities across England. Although before the publication of Phillips’ (1871) mono- these remains “had been examined by Cuvier graph and was the first to place Cetiosaurus within and pronounced to be cetaceous” (Buckland Dinosauria (Iguanodontidae [Huxley, 1869:35]). 1841:96), Owen (1841:458–459) demonstrated Phillips (1871) interpreted Cetiosaurus as a plant- the saurian affinities of Cetiosaurus on the basis eating dinosaur and hypothesized that its limb of several features, including the absence of epi- bones were “suited for walking.” He could not physes (growth plates) on caudal vertebrae (fig. rule out the possibility that it was amphibious, 1.1). He differentiated Cetiosaurus from other however, concluding that it was a “marsh-loving extinct saurians on the basis of its large size and or riverside animal.” Owen (1875:27) later acqui- characteristics of its vertebrae (see Upchurch esced, referring Cetiosaurus to the Dinosauria and Martin 2003:215). Owen (1841:462) con- because of its four sacral vertebrae. He admitted cluded his initial description with this assess- that it may have had some terrestrial capabilities ment: “The vertebræ, as well as the bones of the but concluded that Cetiosaurus was an estuarine extremities, prove its marine habits .
    [Show full text]
  • Osteology of the Dorsal Vertebrae of the Giant Titanosaurian Sauropod Dinosaur Dreadnoughtus Schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina
    Editors' choice Osteology of the dorsal vertebrae of the giant titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina KRISTYN K. VOEGELE, MATTHEW C. LAMANNA, and KENNETH J. LACOVARA Voegele, K.K., Lamanna, M.C., and Lacovara K.J. 2017. Osteology of the dorsal vertebrae of the giant titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62 (4): 667–681. Many titanosaurian dinosaurs are known only from fragmentary remains, making comparisons between taxa difficult because they often lack overlapping skeletal elements. This problem is particularly pronounced for the exceptionally large-bodied members of this sauropod clade. Dreadnoughtus schrani is a well-preserved giant titanosaurian from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) Cerro Fortaleza Formation of southern Patagonia, Argentina. Numerous skeletal elements are known for Dreadnoughtus, including seven nearly complete dorsal vertebrae and a partial dorsal neural arch that collectively represent most of the dorsal sequence. Here we build on our previous preliminary descrip- tion of these skeletal elements by providing a detailed assessment of their serial positional assignments, as well as comparisons of the dorsal vertebrae of Dreadnoughtus with those of other exceptionally large-bodied titanosaurians. Although the dorsal elements of Dreadnoughtus probably belong to two individuals, they exhibit substantial morpho- logical variation that suggests that there is minimal, if any, positional overlap among them. Dreadnoughtus therefore preserves the second-most complete dorsal vertebral series known for a giant titanosaurian that has been described in detail, behind only that of Futalognkosaurus. The dorsal sequence of Dreadnoughtus provides valuable insight into serial variation along the vertebral column of these enormous sauropods.
    [Show full text]
  • Continental Upper Cretaceous Red, Green and White Beds from the Bauru Group (Triângulo Mineiro Region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil) and Their Vertebrate Fauna
    Brazilian Geographical Journal: Geosciences and Humanities research medium, Uberlândia, v. 1, n. 2, p. 238-253, jul./dec. 2010 Brazilian Geographical Journal: Geosciences and Humanities research medium UFU ARTICLES /A RTIGOS /A RTÍCULOS /A RTICLES Continental Upper Cretaceous red, green and white beds from the Bauru Group (Triângulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil) and their vertebrate fauna Dr. Carlos Roberto A. Candeiro Prof. do Curso de Geografia, Faculdade de Ciências Integradas do Pontal, Campus do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia E-mail: [email protected] Undergraduate students Camila Tavares Pereira, Emerson Ferreira de Oliveira, Diego Sullivan de Jesus Alves Laboratório de Geologia/NAAGEO, Curso de Geografia, Faculdade de Ciências Integradas do Pontal, Campus do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Undergraduate student Filipi da Silva Limonta Curso de História, Faculdade de Ciências Integradas do Pontal, Campus do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Undergraduate student Caio Cesar Rangel Curso de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Integradas do Pontal, Campus do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Vertebrate remains have been found in the Upper Received: 03 Octuber 2010 Cretaceous Bauru Group in Triângulo Mineiro region Accepeted: 14 December 2010 (western Minas Gerais State, Brazil) since 1940. Excellent outcrops of an exclusively continental Cretaceous in red, green and white beds are exposed in northern Bauru Basin. KEY WORDS : The oldest unit is the Turonian-Santonian Adamantina TRIÂNGULO MINEIRO , Formation, followed by Coniacian-Santonian Uberaba and Bauru Group late Maastrichtian Marília formations. Geological and Vertebrate palaeogeographical observations indicate that the Bauru Late Cretaceous Group sediments in Triângulo Mineiro were deposited in Brazil arid and semi-arid terrestrial environments with an anostomosing river in the Adamantina Formation.
    [Show full text]