MACNBR   00242
MUSEO ARGENTINO DE CIENCIAS NATURALES "BERNARDINO RIVADAVIA"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
A plated dinosaur (Ornithischia, Stegosauria) from the Early Cretaceous of Argentina, South America: an evaluation
Autor/es:
XABIER PEREDA-SUBERBIOLA; PETER M. GALTON; FERNANDO NOVAS; HEINRICH MALLISON
Revista:
ALCHERINGA
Editorial:
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Referencias:
Año: 2012 p. 1 - 14
ISSN:
0311-5518
Resumen:
A re-evaluation of several vertebrae and dermal plates from the Lower Cretaceous (La Amarga Formation, Puesto Antigual Member;
Barremian?lower Aptian) of Neuque´ n in Argentina, originally described as a stegosaurian dinosaur and recently referred to an
indeterminate ornithischian, confirms the former identification. The Neuque´ n remains have a combination of features that is only known
among stegosaurs: cervical vertebrae with a proportionally large cross-section of the neural canal, the anterior height and width of which
are half the height of the anterior centrum, as in the cervical vertebrae of Kentrosaurus, Dacentrurus and Stegosaurus; prominent lateral
depressions on the cervical centra, as in the presacral vertebrae of Dacentrurus; and cervical dermal plates that are subtriangular, longer
than high and reminiscent of those of Miragaia. Moreover, a small bone here interpreted to be an anterior supraorbital (¼first palpebral)
is similar to that of Stegosaurus and other stegosaurs in having an elongate form and a dorsal rugose surface. The remains from
Argentina exhibit some differences relative to other stegosaurs, suggesting that it is potentially a distinct taxon, but their incompleteness
advises against the erection of a new genus and species. Interestingly, it is the only known skeletal record of Stegosauria in
South America. It provides the second conclusive evidence of the presence of this clade in the Early Cretaceous of the Gondwanan
landmasses.