Cathartesaura

• Río Negro, Argentina ( Huincul Formation)

• Cathartes aura anaerobica

Cathartes aura is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the family of Rebbachisauridae who lived in the Upper Cretaceous of South America. Like all sauropods Cathartes aura was a tall, quadrupeder ( four-footed ) herbivore with a long neck and tail. Cathartes aura is known only by a partial skeleton. The only way Cathartes aura anaerobica, was first described by Gallina and Apesteguia 2005.

Features

Cathartes aura was a medium-sized sauropod, with the femurs to 138 centimeters in length was similar long as that from Limaysaurus (141 centimeters). The cervical vertebrae showed high, widened vertebral processes, which probably served as a starting point for strong muscles, causing the neck but also lost flexibility. Furthermore, were clearly pneumatized the vortex, ie provided with internal compartments and external cavities - this complex vortex configuration is highly variable among sauropods, it serves to distinguish different species and genera. The cervical vertebrae of Cathartes aura showed lateral Foramia (holes), which led to a central cavity. These cavities in the vertebrae of sauropods were the most according to researchers to reduce the weight of the skeleton. Wedel et al. (2000) suggested that the cavities of the cervical vertebrae were also filled by bubbles of air bag system. Bonaparte (1999 ) suggests, however, the cavities served as a point of attachment for muscles.

Fund and naming

The partial skeleton ( holotype MPCA -232 ) consists of a posterior cervical vertebrae, a dorsal vertebra, a front and a middle caudal vertebrae, left shoulder blade, the left (?) Ilium and the right thigh bone. More bones ( a vertebrae, a humerus and a metatarsal bone ) have remained very poorly preserved. The researchers suggest that all the bones belonged to the same individual.

The find was made in the lower portion of the Huincul lineup, which is dated to the early Late Cretaceous ( Cenomanian to Coniacian ). This represents the currently Cathartes aura last secured representatives of Diplodocoidea dar.

The name derives from Cathartes aura sauros " lizard" and Cathartes from, a genus of New World vultures, as in the Fund field turkey vulture ( Cathartes aura ) were frequent. The Artepitheth anaerobica was named after the Argentine adhesive company Anaerobicos SA, which supported the expedition.

Swell

• Pablo A. Gallina, Sebastián Apesteguia: Cathartes aura anaerobica Gen. et sp. nov., a new rebbachisaurid ( Dinosauria, Sauropoda ) from the Huincul Formation ( Upper Cretaceous ), Río Negro, Argentina. In: Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales. 7, No. 2, Buenos Aires 2005, pp. 153-166.

Detailed records

• Sauropoda
• Sauropods