Open Paleo

Atacamatitan

Kellner et al., 2011 at-uh-cam-uh-tie-tan

Named for the Atacama Desert of Chile where it was found, combined with 'titan' meaning 'giant', meaning 'Atacama Desert titan'.

100.5–66.0 million years ago Cenomanian–Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Atacamatitan is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Tolar Formation of Chile.

Diagnosis

  1. Centrum of dorsal vertebrae with pleurocoels that are rounded or elliptical and do not acuminate posteriorly
  2. Ventral surface of dorsal vertebra strongly concave
  3. Posterior caudals with a laterally compressed neural spine bearing a blade-like anterior margin
  4. Femur shaft gets gradually narrower until two thirds of its length

Species

Atacamatitan chilensis Kellner et al., 2011

Type species

Named for Chile, the country where the holotype was discovered.

Holotype
SGO-PV-961 , Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
Material
Right femur, proximal end of humerus, two dorsal vertebrae, posterior caudal vertebrae, dorsal ribs, fragmentary sternal plate, and other incomplete bones
Horizon
Tolar Formation, Cenomanian–Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 100.5–66.0 million years ago
Locality
Conchi Viejo, Antofagasta, Chile

References

  1. Kellner, A. W. A.; Rubilar-Rogers, D.; Vargas, A.; Suárez, M. (2011). A new titanosaur sauropod from the Atacama Desert, Chile. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 83(1): 211-219. FapUNIFESP (SciELO). doi:10.1590/s0001-37652011000100011 kellner2011a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length estimate.

    jones2026b