Mongolosaurus
Encyclopedia
Mongolosaurus is a genus
of sauropod dinosaur
which lived during the Early Cretaceous
of China
.
In 1928 a team from the American Museum of Natural History
, headed by Roy Chapman Andrews
, at On Gong Gol near Hukongwulong in Inner Mongolia
, in Quarry 714 discovered a sauropod tooth
. In 1933 Charles W. Gilmore
, based on this fossil, named and described the type species
Mongolosaurus haplodon. The generic name refers to Mongolia
. The specific name is derived from Greek haploos, "single", and odon, "tooth".
The holotype
, AMNH 6710, was found in the On Gong Formation
of which the stratification is uncertain but which dates from the Lower Cretaceous. It consists of aforesaid tooth. Other remains from the same site have been referred to the species: about half a dozen teeth of the same type, a basioccipital from the back of the skull and parts of the first three cervical vertebrae
. The teeth are long and cylindrical. Some other similar teeth from Asia have later been referred.
The relationship of Mongolosaurus to other sauropods is problematic, with some authors listing it as a nomen dubium
. It likely belonged to the general Neosauropoda
. Having in the past been assigned to the Diplodocidae, Titanosauridae or Euhelopodinae, it is today considered a member of the Nemegtosauridae
.
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...
which lived during the Early 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...
of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
In 1928 a team from the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, headed by Roy Chapman Andrews
Roy Chapman Andrews
Roy Chapman Andrews was an American explorer, adventurer and naturalist who became the director of the American Museum of Natural History. He is primarily known for leading a series of expeditions through the fragmented China of the early 20th century into the Gobi Desert and Mongolia...
, at On Gong Gol near Hukongwulong in Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, in Quarry 714 discovered a sauropod tooth
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
. In 1933 Charles W. Gilmore
Charles W. Gilmore
Charles Whitney Gilmore was an American paleontologist, who named dinosaurs in North America and Mongolia, including the Cretaceous sauropod Alamosaurus, Alectrosaurus, Archaeornithomimus, Bactrosaurus, Brachyceratops, Chirostenotes, Mongolosaurus, Parrosaurus, Pinacosaurus, Styracosaurus and...
, based on this fossil, named and described 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...
Mongolosaurus haplodon. The generic name refers to Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. The specific name is derived from Greek haploos, "single", and odon, "tooth".
The 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...
, AMNH 6710, was found in the On Gong Formation
On Gong Formation
The On Gong Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation. Dinosaur remains diagnostic to the genus level are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.-See also:* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations...
of which the stratification is uncertain but which dates from the Lower Cretaceous. It consists of aforesaid tooth. Other remains from the same site have been referred to the species: about half a dozen teeth of the same type, a basioccipital from the back of the skull and parts of the first three cervical vertebrae
Cervical vertebrae
In vertebrates, cervical vertebrae are those vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull.Thoracic vertebrae in all mammalian species are defined as those vertebrae that also carry a pair of ribs, and lie caudal to the cervical vertebrae. Further caudally follow the lumbar vertebrae, which also...
. The teeth are long and cylindrical. Some other similar teeth from Asia have later been referred.
The relationship of Mongolosaurus to other sauropods is problematic, with some authors listing it as a nomen dubium
Nomen dubium
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
. It likely belonged to the 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...
. Having in the past been assigned to the Diplodocidae, Titanosauridae or Euhelopodinae, it is today considered a member of the Nemegtosauridae
Nemegtosauridae
Nemegtosauridae is a family of probably titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs based originally on two late Cretaceous Mongolian species known only from their diplodocid-like skulls: Nemegtosaurus and Quaesitosaurus. Authorities disagree as to the relationship of these two genera with other sauropods,...
.