Lusotitan
- Lusotitan atalaiensis ( Lapparent & Zbyszewski, 1957)
Lusotitan is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the family of Brachiosauridae. She is known by fragmentary remains of several individuals who were found in the west - central Portugal, dated to the Upper Jurassic ( Tithonian ). The only way is Lusotitan atalaiensis. Originally, this species of the genus Brachiosaurus was attributed (as Brachiosaurus atalaiensis ).
Description
Lusotitan was like all sauropods, a large, four-legged herbivore with a long neck and tiny in proportion head. Like other Brachiosauriden also showed Lusotitan compared with other sauropods greatly extended front legs. Other common features with other Brachiosauriden close the low spinous processes, the pronounced Deltopectoralkamm of the humerus and the upwardly facing longitudinal axis of the ilium with a.
Lusotitan characterized among other things by very large Pleurocoele (lateral cavities ) of the middle vertebrae and by a laterally curved shin. The pool was built relatively slim.
Discoveries and naming
Previous findings come from the vicinity of the site Leiria and Lisbon from the geological formations Unidades Bombarral, Unidades Amoreire - Porto Novo and from a so far unnamed rock unit. They were described in 1957 by Lapparent and Zbyszewski first scientifically - under the name Brachiosaurus atalaiensis. A few years later arranged Kingham (1962 ) this type along with all other species of the genus Brachiosaurus Astrodon to as Astrodon atalaiensis; However, these mappings found little acceptance. Antunes and Mateus (2003 ) found the species in its own genus, which they called Lusotitan. Since Lapparent and Zbyszewski had given no holotype specimen, Antunes and Mateus chose the most complete specimen as lectotype: This specimen consists of 28 vertebrae ( including a series of 18 caudal vertebrae ), 12 chevron bones, a suspected shoulder blade, parts of the foreleg (including humerus, radius and ulna ), parts of the basin ( intestinal seat and pubic bone ) as well as parts of the hind leg (tibia, a fibula fragment and a talus ( astragalus ) ).
The name Lusotitan (Latin Luso - " inhabitants of Lusitania "; titanium gr ) has firstly to the ancient region of Lusitania, which included parts of present-day Spain and Portugal, and on the other to the Titans of Greek mythology.