A new lithostrotian titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Transbaikalia, Russia

Alexander Averianov; Pavel Skutschas

doi:10.21638/11701/spbu03.2017.102

Authors

Alexander Averianov Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation; Department of Sedimentary Geology, Institute of Earth Sciences, Saint Petersburg State University, 16th Liniya V. O., 29, Saint Petersburg, 199178, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5948-0799
Pavel Skutschas Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7–9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8093-2905

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu03.2017.102

Abstract

Tengrisaurus starkovi, gen. et sp. nov., is described based on three caudal vertebrae from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian?) Murtoi Formation at Mogoito locality, near Gusinoe Lake in Buryatia, Russia. The new taxon is characterized by strongly procoelous anterior and middle caudal vertebrae, with strongly developed pre-epipophyses, highly pneumatic neural spine, and solid bone structure of the centrum. The reweighted phylogenetic analysis places the new taxon as a non-saltasaurid lithostrotian titanosaur (Sauropoda). This is one of the oldest fossil records of Lithostrotia and Titanosauria, which suggests a long and unexplored evolution of titanosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of Asia.

Keywords:

Dinosauria, Sauropoda, Titanosauria, Lithostrotia, Early Cretaceous, Transbaikalia, Russia

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References

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