[D] Diamantinasaurus matildae [sG] [T]
Describer
Hocknull, White, Tischler, Cook, Calleja, Sloan & Elliott, 2009
Time
Cretaceous Early Albian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Titanosauria [Lithostrotia]
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Winton Formation, AODL 85, ‘‘Matilda Site’’, Elderslie Station, approximately 60 km north-west of Winton, western central Queensland, Australia
Info
Holotype
AODF 603: Right scapula, right and left humeri, right ulna, near complete right metacarpus including metacarpals II–V, phalanges and a manus ungual. Left metacarpal I. Dorsal ribs and fragmentary gastralia. Left sternal plate. Left ilium and isolated sacral processes. Right and left pubes and ischia. Right femur, tibia, fibula and astragalus
Etymology
Diamantina, in reference to the Diamantina River which runs near the type locality. sauros, Greek for lizard. Type species. Diamantinasaurus matildae / For Matilda, in reference to ‘‘Waltzing Matilda’’, one of Australia’s National songs, written by Banjo Patterson in Winton (‘‘Matilda Country’’) in 1895.
Diagnosis
Diamantinasaurus matildae gen. et sp. nov. is characterised by the following unique association of features. Dorsal ribs plank-like with camellate pneumatic cavities in the proximal-most expansion. Transverse processes of the sacral vertebrae with camellate pneumatic cavities. Scapular glenoid bevelled medially and expanded medio-laterally; scapular blade flat and rectangular in cross-section; acromial blade broad and dishshaped with poorly eveloped acromial ridge. Crescentic-shaped sternal plate. Humerus stout; intermediate robusticity (autapomorphic); deltopectoral crest prominent, extending to midshaft; proximal border shallowly sigmoidal; proximo-lateral corner square; distal condyles merged and flat extending only just onto anterior face of shaft; proximal breadth 50% of total length. Ulna stout; cranio-medial process massive and concave; distal condyle ovo-triangular. Metacarpals massive with undivided condyles and marked distal rugosities; Mc III longest followed by Mc II,Mc I,Mc IV andMc V; phalangeal articular facets on external face of shaft on Mc I–IV. Phalanges present on digits I–IV (phalangeal formula 2-1- 1-1-0); spike-like ungual present on digit I. Phalanges on digits II–IV rounded and broadest transversely;Mc III phalange heavily reduced (autapomorphic). Ilium massive with broad rounded preacetabular lobe directed perpendicular to sacral axis; pneumatic cavities present within iliac blade. Pubes massive and long, fused to ischia via a shallowly sigmoidal pubic apron. Ischia with distinct iliac peduncle on a narrow shaft leading to a broad ischial blade, which is fused to the opposite ischium along the mid-line of the pelvic girdle. Femur robust with lateral bulge; intermediate robusticity (autapomorphic); distal condyles bevelled dorso-medially; shaft elliptical in crosssection and deflected medially. Tibia robust; proximal articular condyle sub-equally expanded; cnemial crest projects cranially then laterally (autapomorphic); ovoid distal articular surface; distal breadth more than twice that of mid-shaft. Fibula expanded proximally; intermediate robusticity (autapomorphic); distal articular surface bevelled cranio-medially. Astragalus quadrangular; posterior fossa undivided.
Hocknull, White, Tischler, Cook, Calleja, Sloan & Elliott, 2009
Time
Cretaceous Early Albian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Titanosauria [Lithostrotia]
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Winton Formation, AODL 85, ‘‘Matilda Site’’, Elderslie Station, approximately 60 km north-west of Winton, western central Queensland, Australia
Info
Holotype
AODF 603: Right scapula, right and left humeri, right ulna, near complete right metacarpus including metacarpals II–V, phalanges and a manus ungual. Left metacarpal I. Dorsal ribs and fragmentary gastralia. Left sternal plate. Left ilium and isolated sacral processes. Right and left pubes and ischia. Right femur, tibia, fibula and astragalus
Etymology
Diamantina, in reference to the Diamantina River which runs near the type locality. sauros, Greek for lizard. Type species. Diamantinasaurus matildae / For Matilda, in reference to ‘‘Waltzing Matilda’’, one of Australia’s National songs, written by Banjo Patterson in Winton (‘‘Matilda Country’’) in 1895.
Diagnosis
Diamantinasaurus matildae gen. et sp. nov. is characterised by the following unique association of features. Dorsal ribs plank-like with camellate pneumatic cavities in the proximal-most expansion. Transverse processes of the sacral vertebrae with camellate pneumatic cavities. Scapular glenoid bevelled medially and expanded medio-laterally; scapular blade flat and rectangular in cross-section; acromial blade broad and dishshaped with poorly eveloped acromial ridge. Crescentic-shaped sternal plate. Humerus stout; intermediate robusticity (autapomorphic); deltopectoral crest prominent, extending to midshaft; proximal border shallowly sigmoidal; proximo-lateral corner square; distal condyles merged and flat extending only just onto anterior face of shaft; proximal breadth 50% of total length. Ulna stout; cranio-medial process massive and concave; distal condyle ovo-triangular. Metacarpals massive with undivided condyles and marked distal rugosities; Mc III longest followed by Mc II,Mc I,Mc IV andMc V; phalangeal articular facets on external face of shaft on Mc I–IV. Phalanges present on digits I–IV (phalangeal formula 2-1- 1-1-0); spike-like ungual present on digit I. Phalanges on digits II–IV rounded and broadest transversely;Mc III phalange heavily reduced (autapomorphic). Ilium massive with broad rounded preacetabular lobe directed perpendicular to sacral axis; pneumatic cavities present within iliac blade. Pubes massive and long, fused to ischia via a shallowly sigmoidal pubic apron. Ischia with distinct iliac peduncle on a narrow shaft leading to a broad ischial blade, which is fused to the opposite ischium along the mid-line of the pelvic girdle. Femur robust with lateral bulge; intermediate robusticity (autapomorphic); distal condyles bevelled dorso-medially; shaft elliptical in crosssection and deflected medially. Tibia robust; proximal articular condyle sub-equally expanded; cnemial crest projects cranially then laterally (autapomorphic); ovoid distal articular surface; distal breadth more than twice that of mid-shaft. Fibula expanded proximally; intermediate robusticity (autapomorphic); distal articular surface bevelled cranio-medially. Astragalus quadrangular; posterior fossa undivided.