[D] Nopcsaspondylus alarconensis [sG] [T]
Describer
Apesteguia 2007
Time
Cretaceous Late Coniacian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Titanosauria
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Candeleros Formation (presumably), Argentina
Info
Genus Typespecies
Holotype (lost)
Represented by a complete mid to posterior dorsal vertebra,with centrumand neural arch separated. The small centrum and large pleurocoel suggest that they derive from the same vertebra, as this is a common feature in rebbachisauroids.
Diagnosis
Diplodocoid sauropod characterized by mid to posterior dorsal vertebrae with very reduced centra, forked medial centropostzygapophyseal lamina, lateral lamina of the neural spine formed by the spinodiapophyseal lamina plus a lateral spinopostzygapophyseal (different from that forming the postspinal lamina).
Etymology
Nopcsa, referring the researcher that first studied this material; spondylus, Gr. vertebra. referring to Barda Alarcón, the original locality where from it was collected by the end of 19th century.
Horizon and locality
Coarse sandy levels of the lower section of the Candeleros Formation (presumably), Coniacian (Leanza and Hugo, 1997); Barda Alarcón , NE from Picún Leufú town, Neuquén Province , Argentina .