Open Paleo

Baalsaurus

Calvo & González Riga, 2019 BAY-ul-SAWR-us

Named after the Baal fossil site in Argentina (itself named after the ancient Phoenician god Baal) combined with Greek sauros meaning 'lizard'. Full meaning: 'Baal lizard'.

93.9–85.7 million years ago Turonian–Coniacian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Baalsaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina. The type and only known species is B. mansillai, with the specific name honoring the discoverer Juan Eduardo Mansilla, a museum technician at the Geology and Paleontology Museum of the National University of Comahue.

Diagnosis

  1. Dentary alveoli with 10 alveoli on the anterior ramus (unique among known titanosaur dentaries).
  2. Dentary symphysis inclined ventrally and anteriorly (anteroventrally), unlike other titanosaurs where it is perpendicular or inclined posteroventrally.
  3. Wide ventral Meckelian groove surrounded by a thin lamina forming a keel on the ventral border of the dentary.

Species

Baalsaurus mansillai Calvo & González Riga, 2019

Type species

Named for Juan Eduardo Mansilla, a museum technician at the Geology and Paleontology Museum of the National University of Comahue who discovered the holotype.

Holotype
MUCPv-1460 , Universidad Nacional del Comahue
Material
Almost complete right dentary with 13 alveoli.
Horizon
Portezuelo Formation, Turonian–Coniacian, Late Cretaceous , 93.9–85.7 million years ago
Locality
Baal site, Lago Barreales, Neuquén, Argentina

References

  1. Calvo, J. O.; González Riga, B. (2019). Baalsaurus mansillai gen. et sp. nov. a new titanosaurian sauropod (Late Cretaceous) from Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 91(suppl 2). FapUNIFESP (SciELO). doi:10.1590/0001-3765201820180661 calvo2019a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length estimate.

    jones2026b