Garumbatitan Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, | |
---|---|
Restoration | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | † Sauropodomorpha |
Clade: | † Sauropoda |
Clade: | † Macronaria |
Clade: | † Titanosauriformes |
Clade: | † Somphospondyli |
Genus: | † Garumbatitan |
Species: | †G. morellensis |
Binomial name | |
†Garumbatitan morellensis Mocho et al., 2023 | |
Garumbatitan (meaning "Garumba giant") is an extinct genus of somphospondylan sauropod dinosaur from the Cretaceous Arcillas de Morella Formation of Spain. The genus contains a single species, G. morellensis, known from multiple partial skeletons. [1]
In 1998, Miquel G. Fígols discovered the Sant Antoni de la Vespa fossil site of the Arcillas de Morella Formation in sediments of the Maestrat Basin near the city of Morella in Castelló, Spain. The Garumbatitan fossil material was subsequently unearthed during field expeditions in 2005 and 2008. The known fossils belong to multiple individuals of different sizes. The holotype, which constitutes the remains of the largest individual, includes a sequence of articulated cervical and dorsal vertebrae, a partial dorsal centrum, ribs, caudal vertebrae, chevrons, an interclavicle, both femora, tibiae, and fibulae, the right astragalus, most of the right pes, and two metatarsals. Some of the bones, including the cervical/dorsal vertebrae sequence some ribs, caudal vertebrae, chevrons, an incomplete ilium, and the left femur, tibia, and fibula, are still unprepared. Additional fossil material belonging to a smaller individual was found associated with the holotype, including ribs, both pubes, and two nearly complete hindlimbs with significant overlapping material with the holotype. These bones were assigned as a paratype specimen. Three left metatarsals and two left pedal phalanges were also referred to Garumbatitan. Additional bones belonging to smaller specimens indicate that the combined remains of Garumbatitan represent at least four individuals. [1]
The fossil material was first announced in a 2016 abstract, followed by a publication in 2017 by Mocho et al., which described it as an "indeterminate titanosauriform". [2] [3]
In 2023, Mocho et al. described Garumbatitan morellensis as a new genus and species of somphospondylan sauropod based on these fossil remains. The generic name, "Garumbatitan ", combines a reference to "Mola de la Garumba", one of the highest peaks in the region, with the word "titan", a common suffix for the names of large sauropods, referencing the pre-Olympian gods of Greek mythology. The specific name, "morellensis", refers to the Arcillas de Morella Formation, as well as the nearby town of Morella where some of the first Spanish dinosaur remains were discovered, in addition to the remains of Garumbatitan. [1]
Many of the unique features of Garumbatitan are in its foot structure. These include the absence of a calcaneum, slender metatarsals with the first and fifth being shorter, a reduced ungual (claw) on the third toe, and the lack of toe bones for the fifth digit (a feature shared with titanosaurs). Furthermore, the femur of Garumbatitan had a well-developed lateral bulge which was possibly more pronounced than in any other sauropod. The tibia length is 64% of the femur length. In the related Tastavinsaurus, the tibia is 55% the length of the femur. The fibula of Garumbatitan is straight and robust, compared to the more curved fibula of Tastavinsaurus. [1]
A preliminary review of the Garumbatitan fossil material suggested that the taxon may have affinities to the 'Laurasiformes' within Somphosponyli. [3] However, this clade is problematic, as several studies have recovered it within various locations within Macronaria, with a drastically varying composition, or to be an unsupported paraphyletic group. [4] Mocho et al. (2023) recovered Garumbatitan as a basal somphospondylan member of the macronarian clade Titanosauriformes, failing to find support for the laurasiform clade. Their phylogenetic analyses placed Garumbatitan as more derived than Dongbeititan , but more basal than Tastavinsaurus . The results of their analyses are shown in the cladogram below: [1]
The Garumbatitan holotype was discovered in layers of the Arcillas de Morella Formation, which dates to the late Barremian age of the Early Cretaceous period. The styracosternan ornithopods Morelladon , Iguanodon bernissartensis , and cf. Mantellisaurus , as well as the spinosaurid theropods Vallibonavenatrix and Protathlitis have also been named from the formation. [5] [6] [7] [8] Two turtle taxa ( Brodiechelys royoi and Eodortoka ), an unnamed leptocleidid plesiosaur, and indeterminate titanosauriform remains that are distinct from Garumbatitan have also been described. [9] [10] [1]
Baryonyx is a genus of theropod dinosaur which lived in the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, about 130–125 million years ago. The first skeleton was discovered in 1983 in the Smokejack Clay Pit, of Surrey, England, in sediments of the Weald Clay Formation, and became the holotype specimen of Baryonyx walkeri, named by palaeontologists Alan J. Charig and Angela C. Milner in 1986. The generic name, Baryonyx, means "heavy claw" and alludes to the animal's very large claw on the first finger; the specific name, walkeri, refers to its discoverer, amateur fossil collector William J. Walker. The holotype specimen is one of the most complete theropod skeletons from the UK, and its discovery attracted media attention. Specimens later discovered in other parts of the United Kingdom and Iberia have also been assigned to the genus, though many have since been moved to new genera.
Mantellisaurus is a genus of iguanodontian dinosaur that lived in the Barremian and early Aptian ages of the Early Cretaceous Period of Europe. Its remains are known from Belgium (Bernissart), England, Spain and Germany. The type and only species is M. atherfieldensis. Formerly known as Iguanodon atherfieldensis, the new genus Mantellisaurus was erected for the species by Gregory Paul in 2007. According to Paul, Mantellisaurus was more lightly built than Iguanodon and more closely related to Ouranosaurus, making Iguanodon in its traditional sense paraphyletic. It is known from many complete and almost complete skeletons. The genus name honours Gideon Mantell, the discoverer of Iguanodon.
Galvesaurus, or Galveosaurus, is a genus of brachiosaurid sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period. Fossils of the only known species, G. herreroi, were found in Galve, Spain, hence its generic name, "Galve lizard". The specific name G. herreroi honours the discoverer, José María Herrero. Some researchers suggest that the taxon might represent a junior synonym of Lusotitan.
Amargatitanis is a genus of dicraeosaurid sauropod dinosaur from the Barremian-age La Amarga Formation of Neuquén, Argentina. It is known from a single, incomplete postcranial skeleton consisting of a partial hindlimb, ischium, and two vertebrae. These remains were unearthed by Argentine paleontologist José Bonaparte in 1983 during an expedition by the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales and later described as a new genus and species, Amargatitanis macni by Sebastián Apesteguía. The genus name comes from the words Amarga, where the fossils were collected, and titanis meaning "titan". Its species name is in reference to the MACN, where the remains are stored.
Tastavinsaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur belonging to the Titanosauriformes. It is based on a partial skeleton from the Early Cretaceous Xert Formation of Spain. The type species is Tastavinsaurus sanzi, named in honor of the Rio Tastavins in Spain and Spanish paleontologist José Luis Sanz. Tastavinsaurus sanzi is known from two specimens, one from the Xert Formation and one from the Forcall Formation. Tastavinsaurus was originally described as a somphospondylan, but it may be a brachiosaurid. The clade Laurasiformes was coined for Tastavinsaurus and its close relatives, which may include Cedarosaurus, Soriatitan, and Venenosaurus.
The Urbión Group is a geological group in Castile and León and La Rioja, Spain whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous (late Hauterivian to late Barremian. The formations of the group comprise a sequence of brown limestones in a matrix of black silt, sandstones, claystones and conglomerates deposited under terrestrial conditions, in alluvial fan and fluvial environments.
The Arcillas de Morella Formation is a geological formation in Spain whose strata date back to the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.
The Villalba de la Sierra Formation is a Campanian to Maastrichtian geologic formation in Spain. Fossil dinosaur eggs have been reported from the formation, that comprises gypsiferous, grey, argillaceous mudstones and sandstones, deposited in a floodplain environment characterised by high seasonality and variability in water availability.
Opisthocoelicaudiinae is a subfamily of titanosaurian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous. It was named by John McIntosh in 1990. Opisthocoelicaudiines are known from Mongolia, Argentina, and the United States. Two genera were assigned to Opisthocoelicaudiinae by Gonzalez et al. (2009): Alamosaurus and Opisthocoelicaudia, a conclusion also found by Díez Díaz et al. (2018). The hands of opisthocoelicaudiines lacked wrist bones and phalanges.
Morelladon is an extinct genus of herbivorous styracosternan ornithopod dinosaur. It lived during the Early Cretaceous of Spain, around 130 million years ago.
Lohuecotitan is an extinct genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur which lived during the Late Cretaceous in Spain. The only species known in the genus is Lohuecotitan pandafilandi, described and named in 2016.
Savannasaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. It contains one species, Savannasaurus elliottorum, named in 2016 by Stephen Poropat and colleagues. The holotype and only known specimen, originally nicknamed "Wade", is the most complete specimen of an Australian sauropod, and is held at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum. Dinosaurs known from contemporary rocks include its close relative Diamantinasaurus and the theropod Australovenator; associated teeth suggest that Australovenator may have fed on the holotype specimen.
Soriatitan is a genus of brachiosaurid sauropod from the Early Cretaceous of Spain. It is known from one species, S. golmayensis, found in the Golmayo Formation. It lived between 138 and 130 million years ago was identified by a team of paleontologists in Spain.
Oceanotitan is a genus of sauropod dinosaur known from the Upper Jurassic Lourinha Formation of Portugal. It is represented by a single specimen consisting of several tail vertebrae and appendicular bones. It contains one species, Oceanotitan dantasi. Oceanotitan is classified as possibly one of the earliest members of the Somphospondyli, a group of sauropods that includes the titanosaurs.
Vallibonavenatrix is a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Arcillas de Morella Formation of Castellón, Spain. The type and only species is Vallibonavenatrix cani, known from a partial skeleton.
Lusovenator is a genus of carcharodontosaurian theropod dinosaur, from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) Praia de Amoreira Porto-Novo Member and the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (Tithonian-Berriasian) Assenta Member of the Lourinhã Formation in present-day Portugal. It includes one species, Lusovenator santosi.
Dortokidae is an extinct family of freshwater pan-pleurodiran turtles, known from the Cretaceous and Paleocene of Europe. Only four species have been named, but indeterminate fossils show that they were abundant across western and eastern-central Europe during the Cretaceous. The family is only known from postcranial remains.
Baryonychinae is an extinct clade or subfamily of spinosaurids from the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian-Albian) of Britain, Portugal, and Niger. The clade was named by Charig & Milner in 1986 and defined by Sereno et al. in 1998 and Holtz et al. in 2004 as all taxa more closely related to Baryonyx walkeri than to Spinosaurus aegyptiacus.
Ruixinia is an extinct genus of somphospondylan titanosauriform dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Yixian Formation of China. The genus contains a single species, Ruixinia zhangi. The Ruixinia holotype is a partial articulated skeleton with the most complete series of caudal vertebrae known from any Asian titanosauriform.
Protathlitis is a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Arcillas de Morella Formation of Castellón, Spain. The type and only species is Protathlitis cinctorrensis, known from a partial skeleton. It was a basal member of the Baryonychinae. Its discovery, as well as those of the spinosaurids Camarillasaurus, Iberospinus, Riojavenatrix, and the contemporary Vallibonavenatrix shows that the Iberian Peninsula held a diverse assemblage of spinosaurids during the Early Cretaceous.