Malawisaurus
Encyclopedia
Malawisaurus was a genus
of sauropod dinosaur
(specifically a titanosaur
id). It lived in what is now Africa
, specifically Malawi
, during the Aptian
age of the Early Cretaceous
Period. It is one of the few titanosaurs for which skull material has been found.
It was named by Louis L. Jacobs
and colleagues, and was originally described in 1928 by Sidney H. Haughton
as a species
of Gigantosaurus
(an invalid name for the diplodocid
currently known as Tornieria
). Haughton considered it closely related to the species G.robustus (later the type species
of Janenschia
). They are currently recognised as separate but related forms of titanosaur.
Relatively small by sauropod standards, Malawisaurus reached lengths of around 16 metres (52.5 ft). Like some other titanosaurs, ossicles have been found which are believed to represent dermal scutes that covered the skin.
The vertebrae from the middle part of its tail had elongated centra
. Malawisaurus had vertebral lateral fossae that resembled shallow depressions. Fossae that similarly resemble shallow depressions are known from Saltasaurus
, Alamosaurus
, Aeolosaurus
, and Gondwanatitan
. Venenosaurus also had depression-like fossae, but its "depressions" penetrated deeper into the vertebrae, were divided into two chambers, and extend farther into the vertebral columns.
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...
(specifically a titanosaur
Titanosaur
Titanosaurs were a diverse group of sauropod dinosaurs, which included Saltasaurus and Isisaurus. It includes some of the heaviest creatures ever to walk the earth, such as Argentinosaurus and Paralititan — which some believe have weighed up to 100 tonnes...
id). It lived in what is now Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, specifically Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, during the Aptian
Aptian
The Aptian is an age in the geologic timescale or a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early or Lower Cretaceous epoch or series and encompasses the time from 125.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 112.0 ± 1.0 Ma , approximately...
age of the Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous
The Early Cretaceous or the Lower Cretaceous , is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous...
Period. It is one of the few titanosaurs for which skull material has been found.
It was named by Louis L. Jacobs
Louis L. Jacobs
Louis L. Jacobs is an American vertebrate paleontologist who discovered Malawisaurus while on an expedition in Malawi. Much of his research concerns the interrelationships of biotic and abiotic events through time...
and colleagues, and was originally described in 1928 by Sidney H. Haughton
Sidney H. Haughton
Sidney Henry Haughton, , was an English-born South African paleontologist and geologist. The eldest of three children born to Henry Charles Haughton and Alice Aves, he is best-known for his description of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Melanorosaurus in 1924, and his work on the geology of the...
as a 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...
of Gigantosaurus
Gigantosaurus
Gigantosaurus is a poorly known sauropod dinosaur genus from England. The type species, Gigantosaurus megalonyx, was named and described by Harry Govier Seeley in 1869...
(an invalid name for the diplodocid
Diplodocid
Diplodocids, or members of the family Diplodocidae , are a group of sauropod dinosaurs. The family includes some of the longest creatures ever to walk the earth, including Diplodocus and Supersaurus, which may have reached lengths of up to .-Description:While still massive, when compared to the...
currently known as Tornieria
Tornieria
Tornieria is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur from Late Jurassic of Tanzania. It has a convoluted taxonomic history.-Discovery and naming:...
). Haughton considered it closely related to the species G.robustus (later 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...
of Janenschia
Janenschia
Janenschia was a large sauropod from Late Jurassic Africa , and therefore the earliest known titanosaur. Originally thought to be a species of the diplodocid Tornieria/Barosaurus , it was later found to be a distantly related titanosaur. So far, it is only known from Tanzania...
). They are currently recognised as separate but related forms of titanosaur.
Relatively small by sauropod standards, Malawisaurus reached lengths of around 16 metres (52.5 ft). Like some other titanosaurs, ossicles have been found which are believed to represent dermal scutes that covered the skin.
The vertebrae from the middle part of its tail had elongated centra
Centra
Centra is a convenience store chain in Ireland.The chain is run by Musgrave, the Irish food wholesaler, however the stores are all owned by individual franchisees. The chain has three different formats available to franchisees — smaller Quick Stop outlets, mid-sized Foodmarkets, and larger...
. Malawisaurus had vertebral lateral fossae that resembled shallow depressions. Fossae that similarly resemble shallow depressions are known from 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...
, 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...
, 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 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...
. Venenosaurus also had depression-like fossae, but its "depressions" penetrated deeper into the vertebrae, were divided into two chambers, and extend farther into the vertebral columns.
External links
- page on Malawisaurus from DinoDictionary.
- Jacobs, L.L., Winkler, D.A., and Downs, W.R., and Gomani, E.M. 1993. New material of an Early Cretaceous titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur from Malawi. Palaeontology, 36:523-534.
- Palaeontologica-Electronica - Sauropod Dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of Malawi, Africa
- DinoData page on Malawisaurus
- Research Casting International - Malawisaurus dixeyi