[D] Futalognkosaurus dukei [sG] [T]
Describer
Calvo, Porfiri, González Riga, & Kellner, 2007
Time
Cretaceous Late Turonian Coniacian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Titanosauria Lognkosauria
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Portezuelo Formation , Rio Neuquén Subgroup, Neuquén Group, Argentina
Length
35~40 meter long [15 meter tall]
Info
Genus - Typespecies
First reported in 2001 in an Argentine news reports Calvo vide [Anonymus], 2001 as Futalongkosaurus
Holotype
(MUCPv-323) Atlas, axis, five anterior, four middle, and three posterior cervicals; 10 dorsals; ribs; complete sacrum; both ilia; right pubis and ischium; and one anterior caudal. All material is housed at the CePaLB-Universidad del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
Etymology
Lognko from the Mapuche language meaning chief + saurus, from the Greek language meaning lizard. From the Mapuche indigenous language: Futa meaning giant and lognko meaning chief; saurus from the Greek language meaning lizard; and dukei, in honor of the Duke Energy Argentina Company that sponsored the excavation (2002-2003).
Horizon, age and locality
Portezuelo Formation, Rio Neuquén Subgroup, Neuquén Group, Late Cretaceous, Turonian-Coniacian (Leanza and Hugo 2001). The material comes from the northern coast of the Lake Barreales, 90 km northwest of Neuquén City, Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina.
Diagnosis
Neurapophysis of the atlas laminar and rectangular, and posteriorly directed; neural spine of the axis high and triangular; posterior border of the neural spine on middle cervical elements concave; ventral depression between parapophyses on middle cervical centra; anterior dorsal vertebrae with horizontal and aliform diapophyses; preand postzygapophyses of anterior dorsal vertebrae horizontal; first caudal vertebra with prespinal lamina bifurcated on its base forming two small infraprespinal laminae; supraspinal cavity in first caudal vertebra bordered by the prespinal and lateral laminae; 2nd and 3rd sacral ribs fused; wide and well developed iliac peduncle on ischia.