Open Paleo

Katepensaurus

Ibiricu et al., 2013

From Tehuelche 'katepenk' meaning 'hole', referring to a distinctive opening in the transverse processes of the dorsal vertebrae, combined with Greek 'sauros' meaning 'lizard'. The species name honors Alejandro Goicoechea, owner of the ranch where it was found.

100.5–89.8 million years ago Cenomanian–Turonian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Katepensaurus is an extinct genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur known from the Late Cretaceous of south-central Chubut Province of central Patagonia, Argentina. It contains a single species, Katepensaurus goicoecheai.

Under dispute

Although undoubtedly a rebbachisaurid, the position of Katepensaurus is uncertain. The describers and the redescription place it within Limaysaurinae (Ibiricu and colleagues, 2015), whereas other analyses recover it within Rebbachisaurinae (Lerzo and colleagues, 2025), specifically as its basalmost member (Fanti and colleagues, 2015).

Diagnosis

  1. Internal lamina divides lateral pneumatic fossa of centrum in dorsal vertebrae
  2. Vertical ridges or crests present on lateral surface of dorsal vertebra, overlying neurocentral junction
  3. Pair of laminae in parapophyseal centrodiapophyseal fossa
  4. Transverse processes perforated by elliptical fenestrae, decreasing in size posteriorly
  5. Well-defined, rounded fossae on lateral aspect of postzygapophyses

Species

Katepensaurus goicoecheai Ibiricu et al., 2013

Type species

Named for Alejandro Goicoechea, the owner of Estancia Laguna Palacios, where the holotype was collected.

Holotype
UNPSJB-PV 1007 , Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco
Material
Partial skeleton consisting of three anterior to middle cervical vertebrae, three middle to posterior dorsal vertebrae, two anterior caudal vertebrae, and two indeterminate elements
Horizon
lower Bajo Barreal Formation, Cenomanian–Turonian, Late Cretaceous , 100.5–89.8 million years ago
Locality
Estancia Laguna Palacios, 2005 Quarry, Chubut, Argentina Ibiricu and colleagues (2013) give the horizon as the "Upper part of the Lower Member of the Bajo Barreal Formation".

References

  1. Ibiricu, L. M.; Casal, G. A.; Martínez, R. D.; Lamanna, M. C.; Luna, M.; Salgado, L. (2013). Katepensaurus goicoecheai, gen. et sp. nov., a Late Cretaceous rebbachisaurid (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from central Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33(6): 1351-1366. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.776562 ibiricu2013a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

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

    jones2026b
  3. Fanti, F.; Cau, A.; Cantelli, L.; Hassine, M.; Auditore, M. (2015). New information on Tataouinea hannibalis from the Early Cretaceous of Tunisia and implications for the tempo and mode of rebbachisaurid sauropod evolution. PLOS ONE 10(4): e0123475. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0123475

    Recovered Katepensaurus as basalmost rebbachisaurine in rebbachisaurid phylogeny.

    fanti2015a
  4. Lerzo, L. N.; Gallina, P. A.; Canale, J. I.; Otero, A.; Carballido, J. L.; Apesteguía, S.; Makovicky, P. J. (2025). The last of the oldies: a basal rebbachisaurid (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from the early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) of Patagonia, Argentina. Historical Biology 37(2): 208-233. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/08912963.2023.2297914

    Recovered Katepensaurus within Rebbachisaurinae.

    lerzo2025a
  5. Ibiricu, L. M.; Casal, G. A.; Martínez, R. D.; Lamanna, M. C.; Luna, M.; Salgado, L. (2015). New material of Katepensaurus goicoecheai (Sauropoda: Diplodocoidea) and its significance for the morphology and evolution of Rebbachisauridae. Ameghiniana 52(4): 430-446. doi:10.5710/AMGH.24.04.2015.2830

    New material and phylogenetic analysis confirm placement within rebbachisaurid subclade Limaysaurinae.

    ibiricu2015a