A new dicraeosaurid sauropod from the Lower Cretaceous (Mulichinco Formation, Valanginian, Neuquen Basin) of Argentina

CORIA, RODOLFO A.; WINDHOLZ, GUILLERMO J.; ORTEGA, FRANCISCO; CURRIE, PHILIP J.

CRETACEOUS RESEARCH (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Manchester; Año: 2018

0195-6671

A new dicraeosaurid sauropod, Pilmatueia faundezi gen. et sp. nov. from the Mulichinco Formation (Valanginian, Lower Cretaceous, Neuquén Basin, Argentina) is based on isolated skeletal remains collected from a single stratigraphic level, relatively close to each other, with unquestionable dicraeosaurid features in the axial elements. Pilmatueia faundezi is diagnosed bya unique combination of several features that include cervico-dorsal vertebrae with dorsoventrally oriented ridges on the anterior surfaces of the anterior centrodiapophyseal laminae, and posterior dorsal vertebrae with deep fossae at the bases of the bifid neural spines separated by a thick, low, sagittal lamina. Pilmatueia is recovered as the sister taxon of the late Early Cretaceous Amargasaurus cazaui. Pilmatueia increases our knowledge about the record of sauropods during the Valanginian, a period in which dinosaur diversity worldwide is poorly known.