Vahiny
Name: Vahiny
Vah-in-y.
Phonetic: K. C. Rogers & J. A.
Wilson - 2014.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Titanosauria.
Species: V. depereti (type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Unknown.
Known locations: Madagascar - Maevarano
Formation.
Time period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial braincase.
Named
from a partial braincase, Vahiny is the second
genus of titanosaurid
dinosaur to be discovered in the Maevarano Formation of Madagascar,
with the first being Rapetosaurus.
The titanosaur Rapetosaurus has
attained almost legendary status since it was named due to the fact
that it is the most complete titanosaur discovered and represented by
fossils from numerous individuals. Though only named from a partial
braincase, Vahiny has been clearly identified as
being distinct from
Rapetosaurus, and the hunt is now on for more
Vahiny fossils,
perhaps even among remains of Rapetosaurus.
Vahiny
would have lived amongst several notable dinosaur genera, and apart
from Rapetosaurus, these include the
dromaeosaurid
Rahonavis,
the
noasaur Masiakasaurus
and the abelisaur
Majungsaurus,
the latter of
which may have been a predatory threat to both Vahiny
and Rapetosaurus.
Further reading
- Vahiny depereti, gen. et sp. nov., a new titanosaur
(Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Maevarano
Formation, Madagascar. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34
(3): 606. - K. C. Rogers & J. A. Wilson -
2014.
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