Exploring rebbachisaurid hind-limb anatomy on the basis of a new articulated specimen from the Huincul Formation (upper Cenomanian) of Neuquén Basin, Patagonia, Argentina

BELLARDINI, FLAVIO; FILIPPI, LEONARDO S.; CARBALLIDO, JOSÉ L.; GARRIDO, ALBERTO C.; BAIANO, MATTIA A.

Historical Biology

Taylor and Francis Group

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023 p. 1 - 17

0891-2963

Rebbachisauridae represents a group of diplodocoid sauropod dinosaurs known from the Early Cretaceousof Europe to the early Late Cretaceous of South America. Despite the rebbachisaurid fossil record beingextended in recent years, most of the evidence is represented by incomplete and/or poorly preservedspecimens; thus, the morphology of some body-sections, such as the cervical series, the pelvic girdle, andthe limb elements, are poorly known or unknown. In this contribution we describe the complete andarticulated hind-limbs of a new rebbachisaurid specimen MAU-Pv-EO-629 from the lower section of HuinculFormation (upper Cenomanian) of north-eastern Neuquén Basin (Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina).The morphological features of the appendicular elements, especially of the femur and tibia, not only suggestrebbachisaurid affinities for MAU-Pv-EO-629, but also add new information on the hind-limb anatomy ofRebbachisauridae, which is poorly known to date. Indeed, this represents the first record of a reasonablycomplete pes in Rebbachisauridae, revealing a phalangeal reduction in rebbachisaurids with respect to otherDiplodocoidea, and most sauropods. This new record from the upper Cenomanian of Neuquén Basinprovides new information to reconstruct the last stages of the evolutionary history of Rebbachisauridae,before the post-Turonian faunal turnover.