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Calvo JO, Porfiri JD, González-Riga BJ, Kellner AWA. A new Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystem from Gondwana with the description of a new sauropod dinosaur. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2007; 79:529-41. [PMID: 17768539 DOI: 10.1590/s0001-37652007000300013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2007] [Accepted: 08/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A unique site at the northern area of Patagonia (Neuquén, Argentina) reveals a terrestrial ecosystem preserved in a detail never reported before in a Late Cretaceous deposit. An extraordinary diversity and abundance of fossils was found concentrated in a 0.5 m horizon in the same quarry, including a new titanosaur sauropod, Futalognkosaurus dukei n.gen., n.sp, which is the most complete giant dinosaur known so far. Several plant leaves, showing a predominance of angiosperms over gymnosperms that likely constituted the diet of F. dukei were found too. Other dinosaurs (sauropods, theropods, ornithopods), crocodylomorphs, pterosaurs, and fishes were also discovered, allowing a partial reconstruction of this Gondwanan continental ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge O Calvo
- Proyecto Dino, Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina.
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