Dinheirosaurus

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Dinheirosaurus
Fossil range: Late Jurassic

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Sauropodomorpha
Family:	Diplodocidae
Genus:	*Dinheirosaurus*

Binomial name

Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis
Bonaparte & Mateus, 1999

Dinheirosaurus (Porto Dinheiro reptile) is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur hailing from the upper section of the Late Jurassic strata of the Camadas de Alcobaça Formation located in central-western Portugal at Porto Dinheiro, Lourinhã.

The material found was at first referred to the previously described and coeval genus Lourinhasaurus due to perceived similarities. Later analysis revealed the fossil to be a different kind of sauropod and was thus described as Dinheirosaurus. The two genera were for some time still regarded as possible synonyms but further interpretation of both finds left no doubt of their independent status.

The fossil remains consist of a partial skeleton of which are notable the well preserved articulated dorsal vertebrae, besides 12 dorsal ribs and fragmented limb bones. Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis is characterized by its diplodocus-like vertebrae with bifurcated neural spines that have different proportions when compared to Diplodocus proper. Also present is an accessory interverterbral articulation provided by structures derived from the hyposphene. These characteristics may entail that D. lourinhanensis is derived from a more primitive diplodocid than Diplodocus, having evolved in the isolation of islands, as was the case with the Iberian Peninsula at the time, separated from the North American and European mainland.

[edit] References

http://www.dinoruss.com/de_4/5cab62b.htm
http://www.dinosauria.com/dml/names/dinod.htm
Upchurch, P., Barrett, P.M. and Dodson, P. 2004. Sauropoda. In The Dinosauria, 2nd edition. D. Weishampel, P. Dodson, and H. Osmólska (eds.). University of California Press, Berkeley. Pp. 259-322.