The first record of a sauropod dinosaur from Antarctica

Naturwissenschaften. 2012 Jan;99(1):83-7. doi: 10.1007/s00114-011-0869-x. Epub 2011 Dec 16.

Abstract

Sauropoda is one of the most diverse and geographically widespread clades of herbivorous dinosaurs, and until now, their remains have now been recovered from all continental landmasses except Antarctica. We report the first record of a sauropod dinosaur from Antarctica, represented by an incomplete caudal vertebra from the Late Cretaceous of James Ross Island. The size and morphology of the specimen allows its identification as a lithostrotian titanosaur. Our finding indicates that advanced titanosaurs achieved a global distribution at least by the Late Cretaceous.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antarctic Regions
  • Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology*
  • Dinosaurs / anatomy & histology*
  • Dinosaurs / classification
  • Fossils*