Patagosaurus
Encyclopedia
Patagosaurus was a large herbivorous dinosaur
from the long-necked group Sauropoda
. It reached a length of 18 meters. Similar to other primitive eusauropods, it was rather heavily built and similar to Cetiosaurus
in general appearance. It is known from a dozen individuals, though some referred material may belong to another related dinosaur genus
. It lived during the Callovian
of the Middle Jurassic
(163-161 mya) in what is now Argentina. Other Argentinian dinosaurs living approximately at the same time were Piatnitzkysaurus
, Condorraptor
and Amygdalodon
.
It was described by Jose Bonaparte
in 1979. The type species
is P. fariasi. Some authors (such as Bonaparte and Upchurch) have placed Patagosaurus in the family Cetiosauridae, but not all paleontologists agree; sauropod classifications are still uncertain.
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
from the long-necked group Sauropoda
Sauropoda
Sauropoda , or the sauropods , are an infraorder of saurischian dinosaurs. They had long necks, long tails, small heads , and thick, pillar-like legs. They are notable for the enormous sizes attained by some species, and the group includes the largest animals to have ever lived on land...
. It reached a length of 18 meters. Similar to other primitive eusauropods, it was rather heavily built and similar to Cetiosaurus
Cetiosaurus
Cetiosaurus meaning 'whale lizard', from the Greek cetus/κητος meaning 'sea monster' and saurus/σαυρος meaning 'lizard', was a sauropod dinosaur from the Mid to Late Jurassic Period in what are now Europe and Africa. It is estimated to have been about long and to have weighed roughly...
in general appearance. It is known from a dozen individuals, though some referred material may belong to another related dinosaur genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. It lived during the Callovian
Callovian
In the geologic timescale, the Callovian is an age or stage in the Middle Jurassic, lasting between 164.7 ± 4.0 Ma and 161.2 ± 4.0 Ma. It is the last stage of the Middle Jurassic, following the Bathonian and preceding the Oxfordian....
of the Middle Jurassic
Middle Jurassic
The Middle Jurassic is the second epoch of the Jurassic Period. It lasted from 176-161 million years ago. In European lithostratigraphy, rocks of this Middle Jurassic age are called the Dogger....
(163-161 mya) in what is now Argentina. Other Argentinian dinosaurs living approximately at the same time were Piatnitzkysaurus
Piatnitzkysaurus
Piatnitzkysaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur. It is known from the Canadon Asfalto Formation, Middle Jurassic of what is now Argentina. Once thought to be a basal carnosaur, it may instead be a megalosauroid...
, Condorraptor
Condorraptor
Condorraptor is a genus of megalosauroid theropod dinosaur. It lived during the Middle Jurassic in what is now Argentina, Canadon Asfalto Formation. The type species, described in 2005, is Condorraptor currumili. It is based on a tibia, with an associated partial skeleton that may belong to the...
and Amygdalodon
Amygdalodon
Amygdalodon was a genus of herbivorous dinosaur with a long neck. It is a nomen dubium. The dinosaur itself is from the Bajocian stage of the Jurassic, and only a few bone fragments and teeth have been discovered...
.
It was described by Jose Bonaparte
José Bonaparte
José Fernando Bonaparte, Ph.D. , is an Argentine paleontologist who discovered a plethora of South American dinosaurs and mentored a new generation of Argentine paleontologists like Rodolfo Coria...
in 1979. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is P. fariasi. Some authors (such as Bonaparte and Upchurch) have placed Patagosaurus in the family Cetiosauridae, but not all paleontologists agree; sauropod classifications are still uncertain.