Describer

Tidwell, Carpenter & Meyer, 2001

Time

Cretaceous Early

Classification

Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda

Diet

Herbivore

Fossilsite

Cedar Mountain Formation, Poison Strip Member, Utah, US

Info

Genus - Typespecies

This is a smallish titanosauriform of uncertain affinities, perhaps a derived brachiosaurid, based on a partial skeleton including mainly limb elements and distinctive caudal vertebrae. A juvenile of this genus may also be known, but is not described in the article.

Etymology

Latin venenos = \\\"poison\\\" [Poison Strip Member, Cedar Mountain Formation] and Greek sauros = \\\"lizard\\\"

Holotype

DMNH 40932, nine articulated dorsal vertebrae, left scapula, right radius, left ulna, five metacarpals. four manual phalanges, right pubis, ischia, three metacarpals, astragalus, chevrons, ribs.

Diagnosis of genus (as for the type species)

Centrum of proximal caudal vertebrae having convex cranial surface; neural spines of middle caudals inclining cranially (similar to Cedarosaurus and Aeolosaurus); centra amphyplatyan (as in Brachiosaurus); cranial and middle caudal vertebrae having deep lateral fossae (shallow in Brachiosaurus, Cedarosaurus, and Saltasaurus; radius more slender than in other taxa (except Cedarosaurus); ulna with expanded medial wall, well-developed medial process (contrasting with Camarasaurus and Brachiosaurus similar to Cedarosaurus and most titanosaurs); olecranon process moderately developed, ulna craniomedial process slightly concave (in contrast to Camarasaurus and Brachiosaurus , similar to titanosaurs); proximal end of metacarpal I more slender craniocaudally than other sauropods; pubis longer than ischium; pubic articulation of ischium restricted to proximal half of bone (occupying much of total length in Andesaurus and Saltasaurus) (Tidwell, Carpenter and Meyer, 2001)