Tietasaura
Named after the Tieta region or Tieta de Agreste (Bahia, Brazil), the area near where the specimen was found, combined with Latin/Portuguese saura, "lizard" — means "Tieta lizard"
Early Cretaceous stages
Tietasaura is an extinct genus of elasmarian ornithopod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Marfim Formation of Brazil. The genus contains a single species, T. derbyiana, known from a single incomplete femur. Tietasaura is notable for being the first ornithischian dinosaur ever named from Brazil.
Diagnosis
- Strongly sigmoidal femoral shaft in lateral and medial views
- Absence of medially inflated medial condyle covering posterior intercondylar groove
- Subcircular distal condyles, unlike mediolaterally compressed ornithopod morphology
- Fibular condyle with straight lateral margin lacking indentation for condyloid process
- Conspicuously sharp posterior supracondylar ridges enclosing deep flexor fossa
- Small accessory condylid present medially to fibular condyle
Species
Tietasaura derbyiana Bandeira et al., 2024
Type species
Named for geologist Orville A. Derby and Derby's contributions to paleontology in Brazil.
- Holotype
- NHM-PV R.3424 , Natural History Museum
- Material
- Distal half of a small left femur
- Horizon
- Marfim Formation, Valanginian–Hauterivian, Early Cretaceous , 137.1–125.8 million years ago
- Locality
- beach near Plataforma Station, Bahia, Brazil
References
- Bandeira, K. L. N.; Navarro, B. A.; Pêgas, R. V.; Brilhante, N. S.; Brum, A. S.; de Souza, L. G.; da Silva, R. C.; Gallo, V. (2024). A reassessment of the historical fossil findings from Bahia State (Northeast Brazil) reveals a diversified dinosaur fauna in the Lower Cretaceous of South America. Historical Biology 37(3): 548-589. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/08912963.2024.2318406 bandeira2024a