Open Paleo

Somphospondyli

Wilson & Sereno, 1998

Its genera lived 149.2–66.0 million years ago Late Jurassic–Late Cretaceous

Somphospondyli is a clade of titanosauriform sauropod dinosaurs that lived from the Late Jurassic to the end of the Cretaceous, with remains found on every continent. It embraces all titanosauriforms more closely related to the giant, largely Cretaceous titanosaurs than to the brachiosaurids, and so unites the diverse Titanosauria with the East Asian euhelopodids and an assortment of more basal, non-titanosaurian forms. Members are distinguished by details of their vertebrae, including a long neck and internal bone tissue riddled with a sponge-like network of air-filled chambers. It is this spongy, camellate texture pervading the backbone that gives the group its name.

Diagnosis

  1. Spongy (somphospondylous) camellate internal tissue throughout the presacral vertebrae
  2. Six sacral vertebrae
  3. Convex anterior articular surfaces on at least the proximal caudal centra
  4. Cervical vertebrae with reduced or absent pleurocoel-dividing laminae
  5. Sternal plates with a crescentic (reniform) outline in many members

Clades within Somphospondyli

Genera placed directly in Somphospondyli

  • Abdarainurus Averianov & Lopatin, 2020 Campanian (83.6–72.2 Ma)Mongoliaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Angolatitan Mateus et al., 2011 Coniacian (89.8–85.7 Ma)Angola
  • Arkharavia Nomen dubium Alifanov & Bolotsky, 2010 Maastrichtian (72.2–66.0 Ma)Russia
  • Astrophocaudia D'Emic, 2012 Albian (113.2–100.5 Ma)United States
  • Australodocus Remes, 2007 Tithonian (149.2–143.1 Ma)Tanzaniaunder dispute
  • Austrosaurus Longman, 1933 Albian (113.2–100.5 Ma)Australia
  • Baotianmansaurus Zhang et al., 2009 Turonian–Campanian (93.9–72.2 Ma)Chinaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Brontomerus Taylor et al., 2011 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)United States
  • Choconsaurus Simón et al., 2018 Cenomanian (100.5–93.9 Ma)Argentinaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Chubutisaurus del Corro, 1975 Albian–Cenomanian (113.2–93.9 Ma)Argentina
  • Dasosaurus Mayer et al., 2026 Aptian (121.4–113.2 Ma)Brazil
  • Daxiatitan You et al., 2008 Barremian–Aptian (125.8–113.2 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Dongbeititan Wang et al., 2007 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)China
  • Dongyangosaurus Lü et al., 2008 Albian–Turonian (113.2–89.8 Ma)Chinaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Europatitan Torcida Fernández-Baldor et al., 2017 Barremian–Aptian (125.8–113.2 Ma)Spain
  • Gannansaurus Lü et al., 2013 Maastrichtian (72.2–66.0 Ma)China
  • Garumbatitan Mocho et al., 2023 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)Spain
  • Huabeisaurus Pang & Cheng, 2000 Cenomanian–Campanian (100.5–72.2 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Huanghetitan You et al., 2006 Barremian–Aptian (125.8–113.2 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Jiangshanosaurus Tang et al., 2001 Albian–Turonian (113.2–89.8 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Jiangxititan Mo et al., 2023 Maastrichtian (72.2–66.0 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Ligabuesaurus Bonaparte et al., 2006 Albian (113.2–100.5 Ma)Argentina
  • Liubangosaurus Mo et al., 2010 Aptian (121.4–113.2 Ma)China
  • Malarguesaurus González Riga et al., 2009 Coniacian (89.8–85.7 Ma)Argentinaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Mongolosaurus Gilmore, 1933 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)Chinaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Padillasaurus Carballido et al., 2015 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)Colombiaunder dispute
  • Pukyongosaurus Nomen dubium Dong et al., 2001 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)South Koreaunder dispute
  • Ruixinia Mo et al., 2023 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Ruyangosaurus Lü et al., 2009 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Sauroposeidon Wedel et al., 2000 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)United States
  • Sibirotitan Averianov et al., 2018 Barremian–Aptian (125.8–113.2 Ma)Russia
  • Tambatitanis Saegusa & Ikeda, 2014 Albian (113.2–100.5 Ma)Japanunder dispute
  • Tastavinsaurus Canudo et al., 2008 Barremian–Aptian (125.8–113.2 Ma)Spainunder dispute
  • Triunfosaurus Carvalho et al., 2017 Berriasian–Hauterivian (143.1–125.8 Ma)Brazilunder dispute
  • Wintonotitan Hocknull et al., 2009 Cenomanian–Turonian (100.5–89.8 Ma)Australiaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Xianshanosaurus Lü et al., 2009 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)Chinaunder dispute

References

  1. Wilson, J. A.; Sereno, P. C. (1998). Early evolution and higher-level phylogeny of sauropod dinosaurs. Memoir (Society of Vertebrate Paleontology) 5: 1-68. doi:10.2307/3889325 wilson1998a