Adamantisaurus
Encyclopedia
Adamantisaurus is a genus
of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur
from the Late Cretaceous
Period of what is now South America
. It is only known from six tail vertebrae but, as a sauropod, it can be assumed that this dinosaur was a very large animal with a long neck and tail. It may have been armored
but, until more material is discovered, its exact appearance will remain a mystery.
Although this animal's remains were first mentioned in print in 1959, it was not named until the description written by Brazil
ian paleontologists Rodrigo Santucci and Reinaldo Bertini in 2006. It was the first dinosaur named in that year. The only species (A. mezzalirai) is named in honor of Sergio Mezzalira, the Brazilian geologist
who originally found the specimen and first mentioned it in print. The genus Adamantisaurus is named after the Adamantina Formation
in the Brazilian state of São Paulo
, where the fossil
was found and also incorporates the Greek
word sauros meaning 'lizard', the most common suffix used in dinosaur names.
The Adamantina Formation is part of the Bauru Group
of geologic formation
s. The stratigraphy
and exact age of the Bauru Group is still unsettled, but the Adamantina probably occurs somewhere between the Turonian
through early Maastrichtian
stages of the Late Cretaceous
Period (93 to 70 million years ago). Adamantisaurus shares the Adamantina with fellow titanosaurian, Gondwanatitan
.
Like many titanosaurians, Adamantisaurus is incompletely known, making its exact relationships difficult to establish. However, similarities have been noted with Aeolosaurus
and the Bauru Group titanosaurian formerly known as the "Peiropolis titanosaur", now called Trigonosaurus
(Santucci & Bertini, 2006).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
from the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
Period of what is now South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. It is only known from six tail vertebrae but, as a sauropod, it can be assumed that this dinosaur was a very large animal with a long neck and tail. It may have been armored
Armour (zoology)
Armour in animals is external or superficial protection against attack by predators, formed as part of the body , usually through the hardening of body tissues, outgrowths or secretions. It has therefore mostly developed in 'prey' species...
but, until more material is discovered, its exact appearance will remain a mystery.
Although this animal's remains were first mentioned in print in 1959, it was not named until the description written by Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian paleontologists Rodrigo Santucci and Reinaldo Bertini in 2006. It was the first dinosaur named in that year. The only species (A. mezzalirai) is named in honor of Sergio Mezzalira, the Brazilian geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
who originally found the specimen and first mentioned it in print. The genus Adamantisaurus is named after the Adamantina Formation
Adamantina Formation
The Adamantina Formation is a geological formation in Brazil whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation...
in the Brazilian state of São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
, where the fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
was found and also incorporates the Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
word sauros meaning 'lizard', the most common suffix used in dinosaur names.
The Adamantina Formation is part of the Bauru Group
Bauru Group
The Bauru Group is a geological formation in Brazil whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. The Bauru Group was divided by Fernandes and Coimbra in four formations,namely Adamantina, Uberaba Araçatuba and...
of geologic formation
Geologic formation
A formation or geological formation is the fundamental unit of lithostratigraphy. A formation consists of a certain number of rock strata that have a comparable lithology, facies or other similar properties...
s. The stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
and exact age of the Bauru Group is still unsettled, but the Adamantina probably occurs somewhere between the Turonian
Turonian
The Turonian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the second age in the Late Cretaceous epoch, or a stage in the Upper Cretaceous series. It spans the time between 93.5 ± 0.8 Ma and 89.3 ± 1 Ma...
through early Maastrichtian
Maastrichtian
The Maastrichtian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the latest age or upper stage of the Late Cretaceous epoch or Upper Cretaceous series, the Cretaceous period or system, and of the Mesozoic era or erathem. It spanned from 70.6 ± 0.6 Ma to 65.5 ± 0.3 Ma...
stages of the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
Period (93 to 70 million years ago). Adamantisaurus shares the Adamantina with fellow titanosaurian, Gondwanatitan
Gondwanatitan
Gondwanatitan was a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur. Gondwanatitan was found in Brazil, at the time part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana , in the late Cretaceous Period . Like some other sauropods, Gondwanatitan was tall and ate tough shoots and leaves off of the tops of trees. G...
.
Like many titanosaurians, Adamantisaurus is incompletely known, making its exact relationships difficult to establish. However, similarities have been noted with Aeolosaurus
Aeolosaurus
Aeolosaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now South America. Like most sauropods, it would have been a quadrupedal herbivore with a long neck and tail...
and the Bauru Group titanosaurian formerly known as the "Peiropolis titanosaur", now called Trigonosaurus
Trigonosaurus
Trigonosaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now Brazil. The type species, Trigonosaurus pricei, was first described by Campos, Kellner, Bertini, and Santucci in 2005. It is based on two specimens, both consisting mainly of vertebrae...
(Santucci & Bertini, 2006).