Argyrosaurus

Argyrosaurus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous 90 Ma
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Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Clade:Dinosauria
Order:Saurischia
Suborder:†Sauropodomorpha
Clade:†Sauropoda
Clade:†Titanosauria
Family:†Argyrosauridae
Genus:†Argyrosaurus
Lydekker, 1893
Species: †A. superbus
Binomial name
Argyrosaurus superbus
Lydekker, 1893

Argyrosaurus (/ˌɑːrdʒaɪroʊˈsɔːrəs/ AR-jy-ro-SOR-əs) is a genus of herbivorous titanosaurid dinosaur that lived about 90 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now Argentina.

Description

Restoration

Argyrosaurus was a medium-sized sauropod, measuring 17 metres (56 ft) long and weighing up to 12 tonnes (12 long tons; 13 short tons).[1]

It is distinguished from other genera by particularly high and short vertebral arches. Ulna and radius were robust, the metacarpal bones were long as with representatives of the Macronaria. Humerus shows a rectangular upper end, similar to the titanosaurs Saltasaurus and Opisthocoelicaudia. An important feature that confirms the classification within the Titanosauria is a pronounced bone spike at the upper end of ulna.[2]

Discovery and naming

The type species, Argyrosaurus superbus, was formally described by Richard Lydekker in 1893.[3]

The holotype specimen of Argyrosaurus superbus is a huge left forelimb, MLP 77-V-29-1. found at Chico River, a Turonian/Coniacian horizon in the Lago Colhué Huapi Formation.[4]

After this specimen, other remains were found, including other forelimbs, a clavicle, a pubic bone and some tail vertebrae that were referred to the same genus.[5][6]

Although these numerous other remains have been referred, the holotype remains the only material which unambiguously pertains to the genus.[7]

The genus name means 'silver lizard' from Greek argyros, 'silver', and sauros, 'lizard', because it was discovered in Argentina, which literally means 'silver land'. The specific epithet means "proud" in Latin.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Paul, Gregory S. Dinosaurs: A Field Guide. London: A. & C. Black, 2010. Print.
  2. ↑ Paul Upchurch, Paul M. Barrett, Peter Dodson: Sauropoda. In: David B. Weishampel, Peter Dodson, Halszka Osmólska (Hrsg.): The Dinosauria. 2nd edition. University of California Press, Berkeley CA u. a. 2004, ISBN 0-520-24209-2, S. 259–324.
  3. ↑ Lydekker, R. (1893). "Contributions to the study of the fossil vertebrates of Argentina. I. The dinosaurs of Patagonia". Anales del Museo de la Plata, Seccion de Paleontologia. 2: 1–14.
  4. ↑ Argyrosaurus in the Paleobiology Database
  5. ↑ Upchurch, Barrett, Dodson; Sauropoda, in The Dinosauria, 2 vol, Weishampel, Dodson, Osmólska, University of California Press, (2004), pag. 259–322, ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  6. ↑ Jeffrey A. Wilson, Paul Upchurch, (2003), A Revision of Titanosaurus Lydekker (Dinosauria - Sauropoda), the first dinosaur genus with a 'gondwanan' distribution. Journal of Systematic Palaentology. Vol. 1, N. 3, pg. 125–160.
  7. ↑ Mannion, P. D.; Otero, A. (2012). "A reappraisal of the Late Cretaceous Argentinean sauropod dinosaur Argyrosaurus superbus, with a description of a new titanosaur genus". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32 (3): 614–618. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.660898.
  8. ↑ Ben Creisler Dinosauria Translation and Pronunciation Guide A


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