Osteology of the basal hadrosauroid Eolambia caroljonesa (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e45712. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045712. Epub 2012 Oct 15.

Abstract

Background: Eolambia caroljonesa is known from copious remains from the lower Cenomanian Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation in eastern Utah; however, the taxon has been only briefly described. Thus, we present herein a complete osteological description of Eolambia.

Methodology/principal findings: The description of Eolambia presented here is based upon the holotype partial skeleton (CEUM 9758), paratype partial skull (CEUM 5212), and abundant disarticulated elements from two bonebeds that contain juvenile individuals. These remains allow the skeletal anatomy of Eolambia to be documented almost fully and a revised diagnosis to be proposed.

Conclusions/significance: The description provided here facilitates comparisons between Eolambia and other iguanodontians and allows Eolambia to be coded for additional characters in phylogenetic analyses. The close affinity between Eolambia and Probactrosaurus gobiensis from the Early Cretaceous of China supports previous hypotheses of faunal interchange between Asia and North America in the early Late Cretaceous.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

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

Grants and funding

ATM's research was funded by grants from the Jurassic Foundation (http://jurassicfoundation.org/), Evolving Earth Foundation (http://www.evolvingearth.org/), University of Pennsylvania Paleobiology Summer Stipend (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/earth/), and Utah Friends of Paleontology (http://www.utahpaleo.org/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.