Reappraisal of tuarangisaurus? Cabazai (Elasmosauridae, Plesiosauria) from the Upper Maastrichtian of northern Patagonia, Argentina

The holotype of Tuarangisaurus? cabazai Gasparini, Salgado and Casadio, 2003 (Elasmosauridae, Plesiosauria) from the Upper Maastrichtian Jagüel Formation (northern Patagonia, Argentina) is redescribed, its taxonomic status is reconsidered, and its phylogenetic relationships analysed. We conclude tha...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: O'gorman, Jose Patricio, Brandoni, Zulma Nelida, Salgado, Leonardo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/37287
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/37287
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Aristonectinae
Elasmosauridae
Weddellian Province
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Descripción
Sumario:The holotype of Tuarangisaurus? cabazai Gasparini, Salgado and Casadio, 2003 (Elasmosauridae, Plesiosauria) from the Upper Maastrichtian Jagüel Formation (northern Patagonia, Argentina) is redescribed, its taxonomic status is reconsidered, and its phylogenetic relationships analysed. We conclude that it must be referred as an aristonectin elasmosaurid. The complete ilium of an Aristonectinae is described for the first time, and reveals a distinctive proximodistally elongated facet in its distal end. Aristonectins are the most commonly recorded Weddellian elasmosaurids. There is a high proportion of osteologically immature individuals ("juveniles") within the investigated sample of specimens. Most of these are larger than other juvenile elasmosaurids, and apparently retain juvenile features at larger body sizes.