Ampelosaurus
Encyclopedia
Ampelosaurus is a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur
hailing from the Late Cretaceous
Period of what is now Europe
. Like most sauropods, it would have had a long neck and tail but it also carried armor
in the form of osteoderms on its back. This dinosaur would have stretched about 15 meters (50 feet) from snout to tail. Recent media attention has made Ampelosaurus arguably one of the most famous dinosaurs known from France
.
French paleontologist Jean Le Loeuff first described and named this dinosaur in 1995. The generic name is derived from the Greek
words ampelos ("vine") and sauros ("lizard"), because the original fossil
remains were found near the Blanquette de Limoux vineyard
in southern France. There is one named species
(A. atacis), which is named after the nearby Aude River
, which is called Atax in Latin
.
Ampelosaurus was originally found near the commune of Campagne-sur-Aude
in the Aude
département of France. It was recovered in the lower levels
of the Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
, which belong to the early Maastrichtian
epoch
of the Late Cretaceous
Period, ~ 70 million years ago. These sediments represent an ancient floodplain
with numerous river
channels.
The first remains were found in a bonebed discovered in 1989, which produced numerous ribs and vertebrae from the back and tail, as well as many limb bones, but no skull
material aside from one tooth. Four osteoderms of different sizes and shapes were also recovered from this bonebed. This material comes from several different individuals. Since 1989, more material has been uncovered in the same region of France, including a relatively complete skeleton with some elements of the skull and lower jaw
(Le Loueff, 2005).
Characteristics of the tail vertebrae and the presence of osteoderms indicate that Ampelosaurus belongs to Lithostrotia, a group of derived
titanosaurians which also includes Alamosaurus
and Saltasaurus
(Upchurch et al., 2004). However, this has not been shown conclusively as Ampelosaurus has never been included in a cladistic analysis.
A complete skeleton of Ampelosaurus can be seen at Dinosauria
, a museum specialized in dinosaurs and situated in the same area where the skeleton was discovered.
from Hungary
and an unnamed species from Catalonia
, Spain
. Numerous other fragments and isolated bones may or may not belong to any of these forms (Le Loeuff, 1995). While most titanosaurs are found in the southern continent
s of Gondwana
, several derived species are known from Maastrichtian sediments in the Northern Hemisphere
, including Alamosaurus in North America and Opisthocoelicaudia
in Asia, indicating that there must have been at least intermittent connections between the northern and southern continents. This seems to be corroborated by the European find of Tarascosaurus
, a Late Cretaceous theropod dinosaur similar to the abelisaurids, otherwise known only from the southern continents (Le Loeuff & Buffetaut, 1991).
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...
hailing 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 Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Like most sauropods, it would have had a long neck and tail but it also carried armor
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...
in the form of osteoderms on its back. This dinosaur would have stretched about 15 meters (50 feet) from snout to tail. Recent media attention has made Ampelosaurus arguably one of the most famous dinosaurs known from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
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...
words ampelos ("vine") and sauros ("lizard"), because the original fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
remains were found near the Blanquette de Limoux vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
in southern France. There is one named species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
(A. atacis), which is named after the nearby Aude River
Aude River
The Aude River is a river of southwestern France. Its source is in the Pyrenees mountains and it then runs to Carcassonne and turns, reaching the Mediterranean Sea near Narbonne...
, which is called Atax in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
Ampelosaurus was originally found near the commune of Campagne-sur-Aude
Campagne-sur-Aude
Campagne-sur-Aude is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
in the Aude
Aude
Aude is a department in south-central France named after the river Aude. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and mother...
département of France. It was recovered in the lower levels
Stratum
In geology and related fields, a stratum is a layer of sedimentary rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from other layers...
of the Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Marnes Rouges Inferieures Formation
The Marnes Rouges Inferieures Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation. Fossil dinosaur eggs have been reported from the formation.-See also:* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations** List of stratigraphic units with dinosaur trace fossils...
, which belong to the 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...
epoch
Geologic time scale
The geologic time scale provides a system of chronologic measurement relating stratigraphy to time that is used by geologists, paleontologists and other earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth...
of the Late Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
Period, ~ 70 million years ago. These sediments represent an ancient floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
with numerous river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
channels.
The first remains were found in a bonebed discovered in 1989, which produced numerous ribs and vertebrae from the back and tail, as well as many limb bones, but no skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
material aside from one tooth. Four osteoderms of different sizes and shapes were also recovered from this bonebed. This material comes from several different individuals. Since 1989, more material has been uncovered in the same region of France, including a relatively complete skeleton with some elements of the skull and lower jaw
Mandible
The mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
(Le Loueff, 2005).
Characteristics of the tail vertebrae and the presence of osteoderms indicate that Ampelosaurus belongs to Lithostrotia, a group of derived
Derived
In phylogenetics, a derived trait is a trait that is present in an organism, but was absent in the last common ancestor of the group being considered. This may also refer to structures that are not present in an organism, but were present in its ancestors, i.e. traits that have undergone secondary...
titanosaurians which also includes Alamosaurus
Alamosaurus
Alamosaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now North America. It was a large quadrupedal herbivore. Isolated vertebrae and limb bones indicate that it reached sizes comparable to Argentinosaurus and Puertasaurus, which would make it the...
and Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus
Saltasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period. Relatively small among sauropods, though still massive by the standards of modern creatures, Saltasaurus was characterized by a diplodocid-like head...
(Upchurch et al., 2004). However, this has not been shown conclusively as Ampelosaurus has never been included in a cladistic analysis.
A complete skeleton of Ampelosaurus can be seen at Dinosauria
Dinosauria (museum)
Dinosauria is a museum devoted to dinosaurs in Espéraza, Aude, a département of southern France.Opened in 1992, it is directed by the association which created it, which is also named Dinosauria. The museum exhibits at least 35 different species of dinosaurs, mounted skeletons or life-size models....
, a museum specialized in dinosaurs and situated in the same area where the skeleton was discovered.
Biogeography
Ampelosaurus is now the best known sauropod from Europe. Others include MagyarosaurusMagyarosaurus
Magyarosaurus is a genus of dwarf sauropod dinosaur from late Cretaceous Period in what is now Romania. It is one of the smallest-known adult sauropods, measuring only six meters in length. The type species is Magyarosaurus dacus...
from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and an unnamed species from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Numerous other fragments and isolated bones may or may not belong to any of these forms (Le Loeuff, 1995). While most titanosaurs are found in the southern continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
s of Gondwana
Gondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
, several derived species are known from Maastrichtian sediments in the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
, including Alamosaurus in North America and Opisthocoelicaudia
Opisthocoelicaudia
Opisthocoelicaudia was 12-metre-long sauropod dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period discovered in Mongolia in 1965 by Polish and Mongolian scientists in what is now the Gobi Desert...
in Asia, indicating that there must have been at least intermittent connections between the northern and southern continents. This seems to be corroborated by the European find of Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus
Tarascosaurus is a genus of, perhaps abelisaurid, theropod dinosaur from Late Cretaceous of France.After having in 1988 identified an upper jaw bone found near Pourcieux as belonging to a member of the Abelisauridae, French paleontologist Eric Buffetaut reviewed the known remains of larger...
, a Late Cretaceous theropod dinosaur similar to the abelisaurids, otherwise known only from the southern continents (Le Loeuff & Buffetaut, 1991).