Open Paleo

Titanosauriformes

Salgado et al., 1997

Its genera lived 168.2–66.0 million years ago Middle Jurassic–Late Cretaceous

Titanosauriformes is a clade of macronarian sauropods defined as the least inclusive group containing Brachiosaurus and Saltasaurus (Wilson and Sereno, 1998), comprising the two sister lineages Brachiosauridae and Somphospondyli. The clade is known from the fossil record beginning in the Late Jurassic and persisted to the end of the Cretaceous, achieving a global distribution across most continents. Titanosauriforms include some of the largest known terrestrial animals, among them the giant titanosaurs of the Late Cretaceous.

Diagnosis

  1. Camellate (somphospondylous) internal tissue in the presacral vertebrae
  2. Anterior caudal vertebrae with the neural arch placed on the anterior half of the centrum
  3. Biconvex or procoelous distalmost caudal vertebrae in many members
  4. Reduced olecranon process of the ulna
  5. Femur with a prominent lateral bulge below the greater trochanter

Clades within Titanosauriformes

Genera placed directly in Titanosauriformes

  • Brohisaurus Nomen dubium Malkani, 2003 Kimmeridgian (154.8–149.2 Ma)Pakistan
  • Dinodocus Nomen dubium Owen, 1884 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)United Kingdom
  • Duriatitan Barrett et al., 2010 Kimmeridgian (154.8–149.2 Ma)United Kingdom
  • Eucamerotus Blows, 1995 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)United Kingdom
  • Fukuititan Azuma & Shibata, 2010 Aptian (121.4–113.2 Ma)Japan
  • Fushanosaurus Wang et al., 2019 Bathonian–Oxfordian (168.2–154.8 Ma)Chinaincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Fusuisaurus Mo et al., 2006 Aptian (121.4–113.2 Ma)China
  • Iuticosaurus Nomen dubium Le Loeuff, 1993 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)United Kingdomincertae sedisunder dispute
  • Jiutaisaurus Wu et al., 2006 Aptian–Albian (121.4–100.5 Ma)China
  • Macrurosaurus Seeley, 1876 Albian (113.2–100.5 Ma)United Kingdom
  • Ornithopsis Seeley, 1870 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)United Kingdom
  • Pelorosaurus Nomen dubium Mantell, 1850 Valanginian (137.1–132.6 Ma)United Kingdomincertae sedis
  • Rugocaudia Woodruff, 2012 Albian (113.2–100.5 Ma)United States

References

  1. Salgado, L.; Coria, R. A.; Calvo, J. O. (1997). Evolution of titanosaurid sauropods. I: phylogenetic analysis based on the postcranial evidence. Ameghiniana 34: 3-32.

    Named Titanosauriformes as a new taxon for the most recent common ancestor of Brachiosaurus brancai, Chubutisaurus insignis and Titanosauria and all its descendants.

    salgado1997a
  2. 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

    Redefined Titanosauriformes as Brachiosaurus, Saltasaurus, their common ancestor and all its descendants, and diagnosed it.

    wilson1998a