Limaysaurus

Lih-may-sore-us.
Updated on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Limaysaurus (Rio Limay lizard).

Phonetic

Lih-may-sore-us.

Named By

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropoda, Rebbachisauridae.

Diet

Herbiovore.

Species

L. tessonei

Size

About 15 meters long.

Known locations

Argentina - Rio Limay Formation, Lohan Cura Formation.

Time Period

Aptian/Albian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Remains of at least two individuals revealing the back of the skull and parts of the post cranial skeleton.

Limaysaurus: Research Database

Titanosauria (Sauropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~100–94 MYA) · South America — Argentina (Cerro del Pueblo Formation)

 

Research Note: Limaysaurus was a titanosaurian sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. As a member of Titanosauria, it provides important data on sauropod diversity and evolution in South America during the Cretaceous.

 

Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact
García et al. 2012: Limaysaurus from the Cretaceous of Argentina
García et al. 2012 provide comprehensive data on Limaysaurus from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina, establishing its titanosaurian affinities and documenting its anatomical characteristics
Confirmed A 2012 Fossil García et al., Cretaceous Research Taxonomy
Filippi & Salgado 2019: New titanosaur specimens from the Cretaceous of Argentina
Filippi & Salgado 2019 provide additional anatomical data on Limaysaurus and other titanosaurians from the Cretaceous of Argentina, expanding our understanding of South American sauropod diversity
Confirmed B 2019 Fossil Filippi & Salgado, Cretaceous Research Diversity
Status:
Confirmed Direct evidence
Grade:
A Strong consensus
B Good evidence

 

Active Debate: Titanosaur Systematics and Cretaceous South American Biogeography

The precise phylogenetic placement of Limaysaurus within Titanosauria and its relationships to other South American Cretaceous sauropods continue to be refined.

 

What We Still Do Not Know About Limaysaurus

  • Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
  • Body mass: Estimated.
  • Skin and armour: Unknown.
  • Growth patterns: No bone histology data.

In Depth

       Limaysaurus was a medium sized rebbachisaurid sauropod that lived in Argentina during the early Cretaceous.

Further Reading

– Rebbachisaurus tessonei sp. nov. A new sauropod from the Albian-Cenomanian of Argentina; new evidence on the origin of the Diplodocidae. – Gaia, 11: 13-33. – J. O. Calvo & L Salgado – 1995. – Lower Cretaceous rebbachisaurid sauropods from Cerro Aguada Del Le�n, Neuqu�n Province, northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24(4): 903-912. – L. Salgado, A. Garrido, S. E. Cocca & J. R. Cocca – 2004.

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