Lucio
M. Ibiricu, Gabriel A. Casal, Rubén D. Martínez, Matthew C. Lamanna, Marcelo
Luna And Leonardo Salgado
Cretaceous outcrops in southern
South America preserve a rich and evolutionarily important record of sauropod
dinosaurs. Among Sauropoda, South American titanosaurs have garnered particular
interest due to their abundance and taxonomic diversity. Nevertheless, the fossil
record of rebbachisaurids has also improved significantly in recent years, and
consequently so has knowledge of the group. However, many aspects of the
anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Rebbachisauridae remain unresolved,
due in large part to the fragmentary nature of many members of the clade.
Within this context, we describe new fossils of Katepensaurus goicoecheai Ibiricu,
Casal, Martínez, Lamanna, Luna, and Salgado, a recently-named rebbachisaurid
from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian/Turonian) Bajo Barreal Formation of central
Patagonia (Argentina). Based on these additional materials, we propose two new
autapomorphies of this taxon: (1) ventral portion of posterior articular
surface of anterior dorsal vertebral centrum wider than dorsal portion,
conferring a ‘teardrop-shaped’ contour; and (2) ovoid fossa on dorsal aspect of
anterior to middle dorsal vertebral transverse processes. These features
enhance our understanding of morphological diversity within Rebbachisauridae
and augment the diagnosis of Katepensaurus. Furthermore, phylogenetic
analysis confirms the assignment of this taxon to the rebbachisaurid subclade
Limaysaurinae. Katepensaurus is the southernmost record of a
rebbachisaurid that is identifiable to the generic level.
Lucio M.
Ibiricu, Gabriel A. Casal, Rubén D. Martínez, Matthew C. Lamanna, Marcelo Luna,
and Leonardo Salgado (2015). New material of Katepensaurus goicoecheai (Sauropoda:
Diplodocoidea) and its significance for the morphology and evolution of
Rebbachisauridae. Ameghiniana 52: 430–446.
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