Open Paleo

Barrosasaurus

Salgado & Coria, 2009 bah-RO-sah-SOR-us

Named for the Sierra Barrosa in Neuquén Province, Argentina, combined with Greek 'sauros' meaning 'lizard'. The species name honors Argentine paleontologist Rodolfo Casamiquela.

83.6–72.2 million years ago Campanian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Barrosasaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur, first described by paleontologists Leonardo Salgado and Rodolfo Coria in 2009. The fossils, consisting of three fossil dorsal (back) vertebrae, are well-preserved but incomplete. They were discovered in the Anacleto Formation of the Neuquén province of western Argentina. The type species is Barrosasaurus casamiquelai. The genus name is named after the Sierra Barrosa in Neuquén. The specific epithet honors the Argentinian paleontologist Rodolfo Magín Casamiquela. It has been estimated to be 18 meters (60 ft) in length and 13.5 tonnes (14.9 short tons) in weight.

Diagnosis

  1. Posterior dorsal vertebrae bearing paired, short spinal laminae nearly parallel to the prespinal lamina (relictual spinoprezygapophyseal laminae).
  2. Well-developed anterior spinodiapophyseal laminae in posterior dorsal vertebrae, more strongly developed than the posterior spinodiapophyseal laminae in the posteriormost dorsal.
  3. Anterior spinodiapophyseal lamina divided into at least two, and up to three, branches in the posteriormost dorsal vertebrae.
  4. Aliform processes with broad, planar, and rugose laterodorsal surfaces.
  5. Portion of neural spine distal to the aliform process is longer than the portion proximal to the aliform process, at least in the posterior dorsals.

Species

Barrosasaurus casamiquelai Salgado & Coria, 2009

Type species

Named for the Argentinian paleontologist Rodolfo Magín Casamiquela.

Holotype
MCF-PVPH 447/1, MCF-PVPH 447/2, MCF-PVPH 447/3 , Museo ‘Carmen Funes’, Plaza Huincul
Material
Three large incomplete dorsal vertebrae: one anterior dorsal (probably third) and two posterior dorsals (probably seventh/eighth and ninth/tenth), belonging to a single individual.
Horizon
lower Anacleto Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Sierra Barrosa, Neuquén, Argentina

References

  1. Salgado, L.; Coria, R. A. (2009). Barrosasaurus casamiquelai gen. et sp. nov., a new titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Anacleto Formation (Late Cretaceous: early Campanian) of Sierra Barrosa (Neuquén, Argentina). Zootaxa 2222(1). Magnolia Press. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2222.1.1 salgado2009a