Open Paleo

Kaijutitan

Filippi et al., 2019 KIE-joo-TIE-tan

Named after 'kaiju', the type of giant monster from Japanese cinema, combined with 'titan' meaning giant. The species name refers to the Maui people of the Mapuche.

89.8–85.7 million years ago Coniacian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Kaijutitan is a genus of basal titanosaur dinosaur from the Sierra Barrosa Formation from Neuquén Province in Argentina. The type and only species is Kaijutitan maui.

Diagnosis

  1. Basal tuberosities width almost four times the foramen magnum width
  2. Internal carotid artery foramen located posteriorly on basipterygoid processes
  3. Bifid neural spine in anterior cervical vertebrae
  4. Medial tuber located posteriorly between metapophyses in anterior cervical vertebrae
  5. Spinopostzygapophyseal lamina bifurcated in spinal sector with deep pneumatic cavities
  6. Posteroventral keel in anterior cervical vertebrae from convergent ridges
  7. Accessory lamina in cervical vertebrae from postzygodiapophyseal to spinoprezygapophyseal lamina
  8. Absence of proximal pneumatopores in dorsal ribs
  9. Prespinal lamina triangular in anterior caudal vertebrae
  10. Absence of ventromedial process in ventral margin of scapula
  11. Tibial proximal condyle narrow with anteroposteriorly oriented long axis
  12. Tibial cnemial crest projecting anteriorly
  13. Astragalus with foramina at base of ascending process

Species

Kaijutitan maui Filippi et al., 2019

Type species

Named for the acronym of the Museo Municipal Argentino Urquiza in Rincon de los Sauces, Neuquen, Argentina.

Holotype
MAU-Pv-CM-522 , Museo Argentino Urquiza, Rincón de los Sauces
Material
Incomplete neurocranium, anterior and posterior cervical vertebrae, cervical and dorsal ribs, anterior caudal vertebra, sternal plate, coracoid, scapula, humerus, ulna, radius, metacarpals, ilium, femur, tibia, astragalus, metatarsal epiphysis
Horizon
Sierra Barrosa Formation, Coniacian, Late Cretaceous , 89.8–85.7 million years ago
Locality
Cañadón Mistringa, Neuquén, Argentina

References

  1. Filippi, L. S.; Salgado, L.; Garrido, A. C. (2019). A new giant basal titanosaur sauropod in the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Cretaceous Research 100: 61-81. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2019.03.008 filippi2019a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length, mass, and hip height estimates, and the appearance features.

    jones2026b