Qunkasaura (meaning Qunca lizard) is an extinct genus of saltasauroid sauropod that lived in Late Cretaceous Spain. The type species is Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra.
Discovery and Naming[]
The holotype (HUE-EC-04) was discovered in Lo Hueco site of Villalba de la Sierra formation of Spain. Additional materials were also discovered,too. In 2024, it was described as a new genus of dinosaur. The generic name combines Quanca, an Andalusian city and saura, while the specific name is named after Queen Pintiquiniestra from Don Quixote.
Description[]
The fragmented posterior cervical neural spine is laterally expanded, and the skeleton is partial. The ratio of mediolateral width is greater than that of abditosaurus and opisthocoelicaudia. The ventral surface is concave. It is unique because the pedicels of the neural arch are placed at midpoint and also middle dorsal centres not reaching the anterior. The sacrum has six sacral vertebrates, and the ilia,pubes,and ischia are also fragmented. The lateral trochanter is oval but the surface is flat. The right fibula is robust and straight.
Classification[]
It is classified as a member of saltasauridae.
Gallery[]
