Chubutisaurus

• Chubut, Argentina ( Cerro Barcino Formation)

• Chubutisaurus insignis

Is a genus of sauropod Chubutisaurus dinosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous ( Cenomanian ) in South America. Within the sauropods Chubutisaurus will be provided to Titanosauriformes, the systematic position within this group is controversial.

So far, a single fragmentary skeleton is known, covering various incomplete vertebrae and some bones of the front and hind legs with. More of the same vertebral skeleton were recovered in 1991 and 2007. The site is located in the Argentine province of Chubut, the fossils can probably be dated to the Cenomanian. The only known species is Chubutisaurus insignis.

Features

Chubutisaurus was a large sauropod, the thigh bone found measures a length of 168 centimeters. Like all sauropods, it was a herbivore with a long neck and tail and a small head. From related genera Chubutisaurus to be based on three unique features ( autapomorphies ) of the vertebrae distinguish, so for example, show the middle vertebra deep lateral cavities ( Pleurocoele ), within which are three laminae (thin bone bridges).

System

Originally classified del Corro (1975 ) this genus within a separate, monotypic group of sauropods, the Chubutisauridae. In later writers, however, the name Chubutisauridae was not used. Salgado (1993 ) noticed that Chubutisaurus showed similarities with the Brachiosauridae and the titanosaurs, the genus, however, classified as not classifiable sauropod ( Sauropoda incertae sedis ). Later Salgado and colleagues ( 1997) Chubutisaurus classified for the first time as a representative of the Titanosauriformes, a group which the Brachiosauridae that includes Titanosauria and various original forms. This classification is still supported today, with the exact position within the Titanosauriformes is controversial. While in the 1990s, one belonging to the Brachiosauridae was discussed, the genus is now considered either as an original representative of Titanosauria or as a representative of Titanosauriformes outside the Titanosauria and Brachiosauridae.

Research History and naming

The only known copy was around the year 1961 discovered by a local farmer and salvaged in 1965 by a paleontological expedition led by Guillermo del Corro. The recovery of the fossils absorbing 30 days of continuous field work and was carried out by using dynamite. These fossils are now housed in the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia. In 1991, a second expedition using the son of the farmer to rediscover the locality. Excavations in 1991 and 2007 brought more then fossils of the same specimen, especially vortices, to the fore. These additional findings are kept in the Museo Egidio Feruglio Paleontológico.

The site is located in the department of Paso de Indios in the Argentine province of Chubut. He belongs to the Bayo Overo - member, one Subformation the Cerro Barcino Formation.

The published in 1974 by Guillermo del Corro first description is short and treated only tail and dorsal and upper arm and thigh bones. A more extensive description, which also includes ulna, and metacarpal bones with, was published by Leonardo Salgado 1993. 2011 published Jose Carballido and colleagues finally a detailed description of all known fossils of the specimen, including those that were recovered in 1991 and 2007.

Del Corro these sauropods named after the Argentine province of Chubut. The second part of the species name, insignis, derived from the Latin and means as much as "outstanding ", which is intended to indicate the particular size of the leg and vertebrae.