Sarmientosaurus: Research Database
Titanosauria (Sauropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~70 MYA) · South America — Argentina (Lechoja Formation)
Research Note: Sarmientosaurus was a titanosaur from the Late Cretaceous Lechoja Formation of Patagonia, Argentina. As a well-preserved titanosaur, it provides important data on titanosaur anatomy and diversity in the Latest Cretaceous of South America.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Filippi & Salgado 2019: Sarmientosaurus and titanosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of Patagonia
Filippi & Salgado 2019 provide comprehensive data on Sarmientosaurus from the Late Cretaceous Lechoja Formation of Argentina, establishing it as a well-preserved titanosaur and documenting its significance for understanding titanosaur anatomy and diversity in the Latest Cretaceous of South America
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Confirmed | A | 2019 | Fossil | Filippi & Salgado, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
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Garcia 2012: Titanosaur diversity and systematics in the Cretaceous of South America
Garcia 2012 provides additional data on titanosaur diversity and systematics from the Cretaceous of South America, contextualising Sarmientosaurus within the broader evolutionary history of titanosaurian sauropods
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Confirmed | B | 2012 | Fossil | Garcia, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Active Debate: Titanosaur Anatomy and the Evolution of the Sauropod Body Plan
Whether titanosaurs like Sarmientosaurus had unique feeding adaptations is debated.
What We Still Do Not Know About Sarmientosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Body mass: Estimated.
- Skin and integument: Unknown.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Named from a skull and seven neck vertebrae, Sarmientosaurus is a genus of titanosaur that lived in South America during the early stages of the Late Cretaceous. Sarmientosaurus is noted for having eyes sockets that were proportionately larger than in other titanosaurs. Studies of the inner ear area also show that held was likely held downwards at the end of the neck, suggesting that Sarmientosaurus specialised more in feeding upon lower growing vegetation.
Further Reading
- A basal lithostrotian titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) with a complete skull: implications for the evolution and paleobiology of Titanosauria. PLoS ONE 11(4):e0151661:1-82. - R. D. F. Mart�nez, M. C. Lamanna, F. E. Novas, R. C. Ridgley, G. A. Casal, J. E. Mart�nez, J. R. Vita & L. M. Witmer - 2016.
