Open Paleo

Histriasaurus

Dalla Vecchia, 1998 HIS-tree-ah-SAWR-us

Named for Histria (Istria), the peninsula in Croatia where the fossils were found, combined with Greek 'sauros' meaning 'lizard', meaning 'Istria lizard'.

132.6–121.4 million years ago Hauterivian–Barremian, Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous stages

Histriasaurus (meaning "Istria lizard") is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian to Barremian stages, around 135-125 million years ago) of Croatia. It has been suggested to be a rebbachisaurid, and if so one of the oldest known members of the group.

Diagnosis

  1. Hyposphene-hypantrum complex present in dorsal vertebrae (distinguishes from Rebbachisaurus)
  2. Well-developed outer suprapostzygapophysial laminae running parallel to spine axis
  3. Long diapophyses with steep upward inclination (~45°)
  4. Neural arch three times the dorso-ventral centrum height
  5. Complex suprapostzygapophysial laminar pattern with inner laminae confluent to form postspinal lamina
  6. Undivided (single) neural spine

Species

Histriasaurus boscarollii Dalla Vecchia, 1998

Type species

Named for Dario Boscarolli, the discoverer of the fossil site on the Istrian peninsula.

Holotype
WN-V6 , Museum of Bale
Material
Posterior dorsal vertebra.
Notes
WN-V6 is the number the specimen carried during preparation; it is still awaiting accession at the Museum of Bale, and "WN" stands for "without number" (Van der Linden and colleagues, 2025).
Horizon
Hauterivian–Barremian, Early Cretaceous , 132.6–121.4 million years ago
Locality
Kolone, Istria, Croatia Dalla Vecchia (1998) describes the beds only as subtidal, intertidal and lacustrine limestones. The holotype was collected as scattered fragments from an underwater outcrop.

References

  1. Dalla Vecchia, F. M. (1998). Remains of Sauropoda (Reptilia, Saurischia) in the Lower Cretaceous (Upper Hauterivian/Lower Barremian) limestones of SW Istria (Croatia). Geologica Croatica 51(2): 105-134. dallavecchia1998a
  2. van der Linden, T. T. P.; Taylor, M. P.; Campbell, A.; Curtice, B. D.; Dederichs, R.; Lerzo, L. N.; Whitlock, J. A.; Woodruff, D. C.; Tschopp, E. (2025). Introduction to Diplodocoidea. Palaeontologia Electronica 28(2): a27. doi:10.26879/1506

    Defines WN as "'without number,' an informal designation for specimens awaiting accession", and reports the holotype extant.

    vanderlinden2025a