Bothriospondylus
Encyclopedia
Bothriospondylus is an dubious
genus
of sauropod dinosaur
. It lived during the Late Jurassic
.
The type species
, Bothriospondylus suffossus, was described by Richard Owen
in 1875. The specific epithet suffossus means "undermined" in Latin
, a reference to the fact that pleurocoels had hollowed out the sides of the vertebra. It is often incorrectly spelled as "suffosus". Owen based the species on holotype
BMNH R44592-5, a set of four dorsal vertebrae found in Wiltshire
in a stratum from the Kimmeridgian
, the Kimmeridge Clay
. Also three unfused sacral vertebrae were referred.
At the same time Owen named three other species of Bothriospondylus. B. robustus was based on BMNH R22428, a dorsal from the same location. B. elongatus was based on a vertebra from Sussex
, BMNH R2239, an original syntype
of Ornithopsis
hulkei. Finally, B. magnus was a new name for another syntype of Ornithopsis
hulkei Seeley 1870, the present lectotype
NHM 28632. Owen himself in an addendum to the same publication renamed B. robustus to Marmarospondylus robustus. Friedrich von Huene
in 1908 referred the material to Pelorosaurus
and in 1922 made B. suffossus into a Ornithopsis suffossa because the latter generic name has priority. Nevertheless other finds were referred to Bothriospondylus. Franz Nopcsa in 1902 had already done that with a vertebra from Argentina
that later would be renamed Nopcsaspondylus
. Fragments from France
and teeth from Portugal
would follow.
More complete material from Madagascar
had in 1895 been named by Richard Lydekker
as a fifth species: Bothriospondylus madagascariensis. This would in 1986 be renamed Lapparentosaurus
by José Fernando Bonaparte.
A revision in 2010 by Philip Mannion concluded that Bothriospondylus is a nomen dubium
. However, a specimen from Madagascar earlier referred to Lapparentosaurus, MNHN MAJ 289, would have been a separate taxon
that for the time being is designated as ?Bothriospondylus madagascariensis or "Bothriospondylus" madagascariensis. An earlier study concluded that this form possessed a for sauropods unique number of five carpal bones, staggered in three rows.
In life the adult length of Bothriospondylus has been estimated at fifteen to twenty meters (50–65 feet). These dimensions fall between Brachiosaurus
and Pleurocoelus.
Bothriospondylus has over the years been assigned to many groups — even in a Bothriospondylidae of its own — with Brachiosauridae
lately being the most popular designation. However, the sparse and eroded material shows no synapomorphies
of the Brachiosauridae and cannot be further determined than a very general Neosauropoda
. ?Bothriospondylus madagascariensis would have been a basal member of Eusauropoda outside of the neosauropod clade
.
Nomen dubium
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
genus
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 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...
. It lived during the Late Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
.
The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, Bothriospondylus suffossus, was described by Richard Owen
Richard Owen
Sir Richard Owen, FRS KCB was an English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist.Owen is probably best remembered today for coining the word Dinosauria and for his outspoken opposition to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
in 1875. The specific epithet suffossus means "undermined" 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...
, a reference to the fact that pleurocoels had hollowed out the sides of the vertebra. It is often incorrectly spelled as "suffosus". Owen based the species on holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
BMNH R44592-5, a set of four dorsal vertebrae found in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in a stratum from the Kimmeridgian
Kimmeridgian
In the geologic timescale, the Kimmeridgian is an age or stage in the Late or Upper Jurassic epoch or series. It spans the time between 155.7 ± 4 Ma and 150.8 ± 4 Ma . The Kimmeridgian follows the Oxfordian and precedes the Tithonian....
, the Kimmeridge Clay
Kimmeridge Clay
The Kimmeridge Clay Formation is a sedimentary deposit of fossiliferous marine clay which is of Jurassic age. It occurs in Europe.Kimmeridge Clay is arguably the most economically important unit of rocks in the whole of Europe, being the major source rock for oil fields in the North Sea hydrocarbon...
. Also three unfused sacral vertebrae were referred.
At the same time Owen named three other species of Bothriospondylus. B. robustus was based on BMNH R22428, a dorsal from the same location. B. elongatus was based on a vertebra from Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, BMNH R2239, an original syntype
Syntype
In biological nomenclature, a syntype is a term used to indicate a specimen with a special status.In zoological nomenclature, a syntype is defined as "Each specimen of a type series from which neither a holotype nor a lectotype has been designated [Arts. 72.1.2, 73.2, 74]. The syntypes...
of Ornithopsis
Ornithopsis
Ornithopsis was a medium-sized Early Cretaceous sauropod dinosaur, from England. It has been considered a synonym of the wastebasket taxon Pelorosaurus, but recent research suggests that this is not as clear-cut as supposed...
hulkei. Finally, B. magnus was a new name for another syntype of Ornithopsis
Ornithopsis
Ornithopsis was a medium-sized Early Cretaceous sauropod dinosaur, from England. It has been considered a synonym of the wastebasket taxon Pelorosaurus, but recent research suggests that this is not as clear-cut as supposed...
hulkei Seeley 1870, the present lectotype
Lectotype
In botanical nomenclature and zoological nomenclature, a lectotype is a kind of name-bearing type. When a species was originally described on the basis of a name-bearing type consisting of multiple specimens, one of those may be designated as the lectotype...
NHM 28632. Owen himself in an addendum to the same publication renamed B. robustus to Marmarospondylus robustus. Friedrich von Huene
Friedrich von Huene
Friedrich von Huene was a German paleontologist who named more dinosaurs in the early 20th century than anyone else in Europe.-Biography:...
in 1908 referred the material to Pelorosaurus
Pelorosaurus
Pelorosaurus was a huge plant-eating dinosaur. Pelorosaurus was one of the first sauropod dinosaurs ever discovered. Pelorosaurus lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 138-112 million years ago. Fossils referred to Pelorosaurus have been found in England and Portugal...
and in 1922 made B. suffossus into a Ornithopsis suffossa because the latter generic name has priority. Nevertheless other finds were referred to Bothriospondylus. Franz Nopcsa in 1902 had already done that with a vertebra from Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
that later would be renamed Nopcsaspondylus
Nopcsaspondylus
Nopcsaspondylus is a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur from the Coniacian-age Candeleros Formation of Neuquén, Argentina. It is based on a now-lost back vertebra described by Nopcsa in 1902 but not named at the time...
. Fragments 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...
and teeth from Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
would follow.
More complete material from Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
had in 1895 been named by Richard Lydekker
Richard Lydekker
Richard Lydekker was an English naturalist, geologist and writer of numerous books on natural history.-Biography:...
as a fifth species: Bothriospondylus madagascariensis. This would in 1986 be renamed Lapparentosaurus
Lapparentosaurus
Lapparentosaurus is a genus of macronarian sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic. Its fossils were found in Madagascar.In 1895 Richard Lydekker named a new species of Bothriospondylus, B. madagascariensis based on fossils found before 1894 by J.T. Last in the Majunga Basin in layers of the...
by José Fernando Bonaparte.
A revision in 2010 by Philip Mannion concluded that Bothriospondylus is a nomen dubium
Nomen dubium
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
. However, a specimen from Madagascar earlier referred to Lapparentosaurus, MNHN MAJ 289, would have been a separate taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
that for the time being is designated as ?Bothriospondylus madagascariensis or "Bothriospondylus" madagascariensis. An earlier study concluded that this form possessed a for sauropods unique number of five carpal bones, staggered in three rows.
In life the adult length of Bothriospondylus has been estimated at fifteen to twenty meters (50–65 feet). These dimensions fall between Brachiosaurus
Brachiosaurus
Brachiosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Jurassic Morrison Formation of North America. It was first described by Elmer S. Riggs in 1903 from fossils found in the Grand River Canyon of western Colorado, in the United States. Riggs named the dinosaur Brachiosaurus altithorax,...
and Pleurocoelus.
Bothriospondylus has over the years been assigned to many groups — even in a Bothriospondylidae of its own — with Brachiosauridae
Brachiosauridae
Brachiosauridae are a family of dinosaurs, whose members are known as brachiosaurids. They were herbivorous quadrupeds with longer forelegs than hind legs - the name derives from the Greek for arm lizard - and long necks...
lately being the most popular designation. However, the sparse and eroded material shows no synapomorphies
Synapomorphy
In cladistics, a synapomorphy or synapomorphic character is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most recent common ancestor, whose ancestor in turn does not possess the trait. A synapomorphy is thus an apomorphy visible in multiple taxa, where the trait in question originates in...
of the Brachiosauridae and cannot be further determined than a very general Neosauropoda
Neosauropoda
Neosauropoda is a division-level clade of sauropods within Dinosauria, and consists of the group leading to Diplodocoidea and Macronaria. Haplocanthosaurus was a typical basal neosauropod from around 150 million years ago, in the Late Jurassic...
. ?Bothriospondylus madagascariensis would have been a basal member of Eusauropoda outside of the neosauropod clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
.
External links
- Bothriospondylus in the Dinosaur Encyclopaedia