Rapetosaurus
Name: Rapetosaurus
(giant lizard). Derived from Malagasy folklore.
Phonetic: Rah-pay-too-sore-us.
Named By: Kristina Currie Rogers and Catherine A.
Forster – 2001.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Titanosauria,
Nemegtosauridae.
Species: R. krausei (type).
Type: Herbivore.
Size: Possibly up to 15 meters long.
Known locations: Madagascar, Maevarano Formation.
Time period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: One juvenile skeleton,
partial remains from other individuals.
A
very
exciting find, the juvenile specimen of Rapetosaurus
is to date the
most complete titanosaurid
skeleton ever found. This has allowed many
of the gaps in the understanding of these dinosaurs to be filled in,
including how the titanosaurs fit in among the sauropod group. This
new understanding of titanosaur morphology has also led to fresh sizing
estimates among the titanosaur group that are considered by many to be
more accurate.
The
body length of the
juvenile specimen was 8 meters, but comparison with partial adult
remains suggest a mature Rapetosaurus could grow
up to 15
meters long. For a titanosaur this is actually quite small,
especially when compared to larger members of the group such as
Argentinosaurus.
The skull of Rapetosaurus is very much like a
diplodocids, and features teeth that are more suited to stripping
fleshy vegetation such as
leaves from branches.
Further reading
- The last of the dinosaur titans: a new sauropod from Madagascar -
Kristina Curry Rogers, and Catherine A. Forster - 2001.
- The skull of Rapetosaurus krausei (Sauropoda:
Titanosauria) from the
Late Cretaceous of Madagascar - Kristina Curry Rogers, and Catherine A.
Forster - 2004.
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