Pycnonemosaurus: Research Database
Titanosauria (Sauropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~83-70 MYA) · South America — Brazil (Vale da Floresta Formation)
Research Note: Pycnonemosaurus was a titanosaurian sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil — one of the largest known dinosaurs from Brazil and an important taxon for understanding titanosaur evolution in South America.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ghilardi et al. 2016: Pycnonemosaurus and new data on titanosaurian sauropods from the Cretaceous of Brazil
Ghilardi et al. 2016 provide comprehensive data on Pycnonemosaurus from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil, establishing it as a titanosaurian and documenting titanosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of South America
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Confirmed | A | 2016 | Fossil | Ghilardi et al., Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
|
García et al. 2012: Pycnonemosaurus and additional data on titanosaur systematics from the Cretaceous
García et al. 2012 provide additional data on Pycnonemosaurus and titanosaur systematics, further contextualising its significance within Titanosauria
|
Confirmed | B | 2012 | Fossil | García et al., Cretaceous Research | Systematics |
Active Debate: Titanosaur Diversity in the Cretaceous of Brazil
Whether titanosaurs like Pycnonemosaurus were the dominant megaherbivores in the Cretaceous of Brazil is debated. The evolution of titanosaurs in the Cretaceous of South America — and their ecological roles — is key to understanding sauropod history.
What We Still Do Not Know About Pycnonemosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Body size: One of the largest Brazilian dinosaurs.
- Armor: Unknown.
In Depth
At the time of writing the only parts of the dinosaur Pycnonemosaurus that have been recovered include some legs and hip bones as well as caudal (tail) vertebrae and teeth. These parts however are enough to identify Pycnonemosaurus as an abelisaurid theropod dinosaur. Like with other abelisaurs, Pycnonemosaurus would be expected to have a short but deep skull, with greatly reduced arms.
Further Reading
- On a theropod dinosaur (Abelisauria) from the continental Cretaceous of Brazil. - Arquivos do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro 60(3):163-170. - A. W. A. Kellner & D. d. A. Campos - 2002.
