Open Paleo

Rugocaudia

Woodruff, 2012 ROO-go-CAW-dee-uh

From Latin 'rugosus' (wrinkled, rough) + 'cauda' (tail), meaning 'wrinkled tail' or 'rough-tailed', referring to the texture of the caudal vertebrae.

113.2–100.5 million years ago Albian, Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous stages

Rugocaudia is a potentially dubious genus of early titanosauriform sauropod dinosaurs known from the Early Cretaceous of Montana, United States.

Diagnosis

  1. Condyle and cotyle margins greatly expressed with rugose texture
  2. Paired large depressions on anterior condyle margin near neural arch of anterior caudals
  3. Neurovascular foramina on condyle/cotyle margins with greater frequency posteriorly
  4. Distalmost caudal vertebrae exhibiting convex-upward bend in lateral view
  5. Midcaudal vertebrae centra square in lateral and transverse view

Species

Rugocaudia cooneyi Woodruff, 2012

Type species

Named for J. P. Cooney, the owner of the land in Montana on which the holotype specimen was found.

Holotype
MOR 334 , Museum of the Rockies
Material
19 caudal vertebral centra, caudal neural arch, proximal chevron, tooth, distal metacarpal section, rib fragments, proximal femur, limb elements, possible pelvic and shoulder girdles
Horizon
Himes Member, Cloverly Formation, Albian, Early Cretaceous , 113.2–100.5 million years ago
Locality
Middle Dome, Montana, United States

References

  1. Woodruff, D. C. (2012). A new titanosauriform from the Early Cretaceous Cloverly Formation of Montana. Cretaceous Research 36: 58-66. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2012.02.003 woodruff2012a