[D] Sonidosaurus saihangaobiensis [sG] [T]
Describer
Xu, Zhang, Tan, Zhao & Tan, 2006
Time
Cretaceous Late
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Titanosauria
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Erlian Formation of Saihangaobi, Sonid Zuoqi, Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia, China
Info
Genus - Typespecies
Sonidosaurus saihangaobiensis is named and described on the basis of the holotype and the only known specimen, which comprises several dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, several dorsal ribs, one anterior chevron, and much of the pelvis.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic features of the new species include a thick ridge extending down from the postzygapophysis on the lateral surface of the neural arch of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, a transversely oriented accessory lamina present between the anterior centroparapophyseal limina and the lateral centraprezygapophyseal lamina of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, long, anteroventrally directed caudal rib that bears two distinctive fossae on its posterior margin on the anterior caudal vertebrae and a prominent vertical ridge above the pubic peduncle on the medial surface of the ilium, among others.
The ilium is pneumatic, a feature not common among non-avian dinosaurs. The new taxon has an unusual combination of primitive and derived character states. Preliminary character analysis shows a complex character distribution within the Titanosauriformes. Recent titanosauriform discoveries suggest that a significant radiation occurred in Asia early in the titanosauriform evolution.
Etymology
“Sonid”, a large geographical area that includes the type locality; “saurus”, meaning “lizard” (Greek); “saihangaobi”, the type locality. is present on the lateral margin of the neural spine, though it is not prominent.
Holotype
LH V 0010 (Long Hao Geologic and Paleontological Research Center), a partial skeleton preserving five dorsal vertebrae, the last sacral vertebra, one anterior caudal vertebra, several dorsal ribs, one anterior chevron, partial left and right ilia, partial left pubis, and both ischia.
The specimen was collected from fluvial sandstones of the Upper Cretaceous Erlian Formation, which is now regarded as Late Cretaceous (Senonian) in age (Currie and Eberth, 1993).
It was collected from beds that are slightly lower than the therizinosaroid-fossilbearing beds (Zhang et al. 2001; Xu et al. , 2002).
Xu, Zhang, Tan, Zhao & Tan, 2006
Time
Cretaceous Late
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Titanosauria
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Erlian Formation of Saihangaobi, Sonid Zuoqi, Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia, China
Info
Genus - Typespecies
Sonidosaurus saihangaobiensis is named and described on the basis of the holotype and the only known specimen, which comprises several dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, several dorsal ribs, one anterior chevron, and much of the pelvis.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic features of the new species include a thick ridge extending down from the postzygapophysis on the lateral surface of the neural arch of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, a transversely oriented accessory lamina present between the anterior centroparapophyseal limina and the lateral centraprezygapophyseal lamina of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, long, anteroventrally directed caudal rib that bears two distinctive fossae on its posterior margin on the anterior caudal vertebrae and a prominent vertical ridge above the pubic peduncle on the medial surface of the ilium, among others.
The ilium is pneumatic, a feature not common among non-avian dinosaurs. The new taxon has an unusual combination of primitive and derived character states. Preliminary character analysis shows a complex character distribution within the Titanosauriformes. Recent titanosauriform discoveries suggest that a significant radiation occurred in Asia early in the titanosauriform evolution.
Etymology
“Sonid”, a large geographical area that includes the type locality; “saurus”, meaning “lizard” (Greek); “saihangaobi”, the type locality. is present on the lateral margin of the neural spine, though it is not prominent.
Holotype
LH V 0010 (Long Hao Geologic and Paleontological Research Center), a partial skeleton preserving five dorsal vertebrae, the last sacral vertebra, one anterior caudal vertebra, several dorsal ribs, one anterior chevron, partial left and right ilia, partial left pubis, and both ischia.
The specimen was collected from fluvial sandstones of the Upper Cretaceous Erlian Formation, which is now regarded as Late Cretaceous (Senonian) in age (Currie and Eberth, 1993).
It was collected from beds that are slightly lower than the therizinosaroid-fossilbearing beds (Zhang et al. 2001; Xu et al. , 2002).