Mendozasaurus
Encyclopedia
Mendozasaurus is a genus
of sauropod
dinosaur
. It was a member of Titanosauria, which were massive sauropods that were common on the southern landmasses during the Cretaceous
period.
Mendozasaurus is known from incomplete remains that show it was an armored
animal, with armor being common among many later titanosaurs such as Saltasaurus
. This dinosaur lived from the late Turonian
to the late Coniacian
, approximately 89-85 million years ago. It belonged to the recently discovered clade
Lognkosauria
, a transitional group of titanosaurs which included the gigantic Futalognkosaurus and Puertasaurus
. Like both of these animals, Mendozasaurus had a long, thick neck with very heavy cervical ribs and massive neural spines.
The type species
, Mendozasaurus neguyelap, was described by Argentinean paleontologist Dr. Bernardo J. Gonzalez Riga http://personal.cricyt.edu.ar/bgonriga/ in 2003. Mendozasaurus is the first dinosaur named from Mendoza Province
, Argentina
.
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
Sauropoda
Sauropoda , or the sauropods , are an infraorder of saurischian dinosaurs. They had long necks, long tails, small heads , and thick, pillar-like legs. They are notable for the enormous sizes attained by some species, and the group includes the largest animals to have ever lived on land...
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 was a member of Titanosauria, which were massive sauropods that were common on the southern landmasses during the 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.
Mendozasaurus is known from incomplete remains that show it was an 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...
animal, with armor being common among many later titanosaurs such as 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...
. This dinosaur lived from the late 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...
to the late Coniacian
Coniacian
The Coniacian is an age or stage in the geologic timescale. It is a subdivision of the Late Cretaceous epoch or Upper Cretaceous series and spans the time between 89.3 ± 1 Ma and 85.8 ± 0.7 Ma...
, approximately 89-85 million years ago. It belonged to the recently discovered 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...
Lognkosauria
Lognkosauria
Lognkosauria is a group of giant long-necked sauropod dinosaurs within the clade Titanosauria, and includes some of the largest and heaviest dinosaurs to ever walk the earth.-Defining characteristics:...
, a transitional group of titanosaurs which included the gigantic Futalognkosaurus and Puertasaurus
Puertasaurus
Puertasaurus is a genus of titanosaurid sauropod that appeared during the Late Cretaceous. It lived in what is now Patagonia. The type species, Puertasaurus reuili, is named in honor of Pablo Puerta and Santiago Reuil, the co-discoverers in January 2001 of the specimen...
. Like both of these animals, Mendozasaurus had a long, thick neck with very heavy cervical ribs and massive neural spines.
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...
, Mendozasaurus neguyelap, was described by Argentinean paleontologist Dr. Bernardo J. Gonzalez Riga http://personal.cricyt.edu.ar/bgonriga/ in 2003. Mendozasaurus is the first dinosaur named from Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, 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...
.
External links
- Mendozasaurus and other South American sauropods
- Thescelosaurus! page containing info about Mendozasaurus
- Sauropod dinosaurs: Complementary information on South American titanosaurs