Paleontologists in Argentina have discovered fossil fragments of a new genus and species of Lebatisaurus, a sauropod dinosaur that walked the earth more than 90 million years ago.
The newly discovered dinosaur lived in what is now Argentina during the Cenomanian period of the late Cretaceous period, 96 to 93 million years ago.
with scientific name Sidersaura Maraethe ancient beast had a body length of 20 meters, an estimated mass of 15 tons, and a very long tail.
The animal belongs to Rebatisauridaea large family of sauropod dinosaurs known from fragmentary fossil remains in South America, Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia.
These dinosaurs are distinguished from other sauropods by their unique teeth. Some species had tooth batteries similar to hadrosaurid and ceratopsian dinosaurs.
“Rebachisaurs were extremely important dinosaurs in the Cretaceous ecosystem, and disappeared due to an extinction event that occurred in the middle of this period. was held 90 million years ago.'' Dr. Lucas Nicolas Lersopaleontologists and colleagues from Azara Foundation Maimonides University and CONICET.
“Sidersaura Marae is one of the last rebatisaurids, but it also belongs to an evolutionary ancient lineage. ”
“This suggests that these were the largest of their group, given that some of the earliest rebachisaurs survived to the end of their lifespans, and can reach nearly 20 meters in length. It shows that.”
Sidersaura Marae fossil.Image credit: Lerzo other., doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2297914.
Fossilized bones are Sidersaura Marae It was discovered in the rocks of the Finkle Formation in the province of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina.
“The remains found include a partially articulated tail with sacral vertebrae, hind leg bones, part of the skull, and a tail vertebrae,” Dr Lerzo said.
“Having several anatomically overlapping specimens allowed us to relate them and better understand the characteristics of this new sauropod dinosaur.”
According to the team, one of the distinguishing features is: Sidersaura Marae The difference from other dinosaurs is the star-shaped shape of the hemal arch (coccyx).
Additionally, its skull is sturdy, unlike other closely related species.
“Another feature of the cranium that distinguishes it from others Sidersaura Marae “What differentiates it from other rebatisaurids is the frontoparietal foramen, which is essentially a hole in the roof of the skull,” the paleontologists said.
“This characteristic brings us closer to the following state. dicraeosaursA family of sauropod dinosaurs known for having spines on their necks and backs. ”
“The presence of early species in the Cenomanian-Turonian period, very close to the group's extinction, suggests that the evolutionary history of rebbatisaurids was more complex than previously thought.” the researchers concluded.
their paper It was published in the magazine historical biology.
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Lucas Nicolas Lerso other. The last oldie: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) early basal rebachisaurids (sauropods, Diplodocoidea) of Patagonia, Argentina. historical biology, published online on January 3, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2297914
Source: www.sci.news
