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A giant fossil discovered in Patagonia revealed a new species of herbivorous dinosaur. At 95 million years old, the animal draws attention for its size and unique anatomical characteristics that help to better understand the history of sauropods.
A new herbivorous dinosaur was discovered in Patagonia Argentina. Named Astigmasaura genuflexa, the animal lived about 95 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. Measuring approximately 18 meters in length and weighing over 10 tons, it was part of the family Rebbachisauridae, a group of sauropods from the superfamily Diplodocoidea.
Fossil Found in El Orejano
The fossils were found in the locality of El Orejano, situated in the Huincul Formation, within the Neuquén Basin.
Paleontologists analyzed a part of the well-preserved posterior skeleton of an adult individual.
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According to researchers, this finding helps to better understand the anatomy of the caudal and pelvic regions of this family of dinosaurs, which had been poorly documented until now.
Distinct Anatomical Characteristics
Most importantly, Astigmasaura genuflexa exhibits unique features. Among them are high neural spines on the tail vertebrae, asymmetrical hemal arches, and laterally flattened tibias.
Additionally, the animal’s femur has a specific shape, with inclined distal condyles.
These characteristics set it apart from other previously described sauropods. Therefore, the study suggests that the diversity of Rebbachisauridae was greater than previously thought.
Diversity in Ancient Gondwana
According to specialists, the Rebbachisaurids lived between the Early and Late Cretaceous. Their fossils have been found in Northern Africa and South America, regions that were part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Patagonia, in turn, has produced more than half of all known specimens of this family.
The complete article was published in the journal Cretaceous Research and reinforces the scientific relevance of the region.
