Venenosaurus
- Utah, USA ( Cedar Mountain Formation)
- Venenosaurus dicrocei
Venenosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the group of Titanosauriformes. Fragmentary remains, derived from both adult individuals as well as young animals, were found in the Lower Cretaceous ( Aptian ) of the U.S. state of Utah. The only way is Venenosaurus dicrocei.
Features
Like all sauropods had Venenosaurus a large, four-legged herbivore with the barrel-shaped body and a long neck and tail. It was a relatively small sauropod. The skeleton shows several derived ( advanced ) features, which are typical for representatives of Titanosauria, as well as a number of basal (original ) characteristics, which are typical for representatives of Brachiosauridae. From other sauropods to Venenosaurus be distinguished on the basis of caudal vertebrae: the vertebrae of the anterior caudal vertebrae show a convex front face and a flat rear; also the spinous processes of the middle caudal vertebrae are tilted forward.
System
The relationships of this genus are controversial. Virginia Tidwell and colleagues (2001 ) note that various features have a membership to the Brachiosauridae, other features, however, suggest any affiliation with the Titanosauria. These researchers classified as Venenosaurus therefore not assignable representatives of Titanosauriformes. Upchurch and colleagues ( 2004) suggest, however, that it was a basal representative of the Titanosauria, based on the anatomy of the ulna ( ulna ) and in relation to the pubic bone ( pubis ) short ischium ( ischium ).
Researchers led by Rafael Royo -Torres (2009, 2012) propose a new group within the Titanosauriformes ago, the Laurasiformes. This group is Venenosaurus, Cedarosaurus and Tastavinsaurus include.
Findings, research history and naming
The first Fund ( holotype, specimen number DMNH 40932 ) comes from Grand County in the east central Utah. The fossils were embedded in a medium-to coarse-grained sandstone with green clay lenses, a member of the Poison Strip Sandstone Members of the Lower Cedar Mountain Formation. These sediments were transported and deposited by a meandering river. The Fund consists of nine caudal vertebrae ( Cervicalia ), shoulder blade (scapula ), radius and ulna ( ulna and radius), five metacarpal bones ( metacarpals ), four phalanges ( phalanges ), pubic bone ( pubis ), ischial ( ischium ), three metatarsal bones ( metacarpals ), Astragalus, chevron bones and ribs.
The find was described in 2001 by Virginia Tidwell, Kenneth Carpenter and Susanne Meyer as a new genus and species Venenosaurus dicrocei scientifically. The name Venenosaurus means as much as "poison lizard" (Latin venenos - "Poison " saurus - " lizard" ) and is named after the Poison Strip Member, the rock unit from which originate the fossils. The second part of the species name, dicrocei honors Anthony DiCroce, the discoverer of the fossil.
In 2005, the remains of a young animal could be described. This Fund ( copy number DMNH 40930 ) includes various metacarpals, a cubit, the head of a rib and various, poorly preserved vertebrae fragments with.