Uragasaurus
From Sanskrit "uraga" ("snake" or "serpent"), a reference to the long neck typical of mamenchisaurids, combined with Greek "sauros" ("lizard"); meaning "serpent lizard".
Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous stages
Uragasaurus is an extinct genus of mamenchisaurid sauropod dinosaur known from the Late Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation of Thailand. The genus contains a single species, Uragasaurus kalasinensis, known from a single dorsal (trunk) vertebra. It is the first member of the family Mamenchisauridae named from Thailand.
Diagnosis
- Anterior dorsal vertebra bears prominent, elongated teardrop-shaped pneumatic fossae on the distal portion of the transverse processes.
- Intraprezygapophyseal laminae meet ventromedially to form a Y-shaped configuration in anterior view, incorporating a single vertical intraprezygapophyseal lamina.
- Shallow, subtriangular pleurocoel lacking an internal septum.
Species
Uragasaurus kalasinensis Nilpanapan et al., 2026
Type species
Refers to Kalasin Province, Thailand, where the specimens were found.
- Holotype
- PRC 460 , Paleontological Research and Education Centre, Maha Sarakham University
- Material
- An isolated, completely preserved but anteroposteriorly compressed anterior dorsal vertebra.
- Horizon
- lower Phu Kradung Formation, Tithonian–Berriasian, Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous , 149.2–137.1 million years ago
- Locality
- Phu Noi, Kalasin, Thailand
References
- Nilpanapan, Apirut; Manitkoon, Sita; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Lauprasert, Komsorn (2026). A new mamenchisaurid sauropod from the Lower Phu Kradung Formation, Upper Jurassic of northeastern Thailand. Scientific Reports 16(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-49822-3 nilpanapan2026a