Talenkauen is a Late Cretaceous genus of Elasmarian from South America, and contains one species Talenkauen santacrucensis.[1] It was initially thought to be from Cenomanian[2] or Turonian[3] rocks, but it was due to outdated stratigraphy and several names of other units being used for the Cerro Fortaleza Formation.
Description[]
Size Comparison of Talenkauen santacrucensis
In 2004 Fernando Novas, Andrea Cambasio, and Alfredo Ambrosio proposed a new genus and species Talenkauen santacrucensis based off "distinguishing features in the holotype specimen(MPM–10001) in the presence of plate-like structures on both sides of the thorax, which are better interpreted as uncinate processes than dermal armor."[4] The holotype was estimated to have been around 4 meters long(13 feet), which the publishers considered as being the first large non-hadrosaurian euornithopod bones described from South America.[4]
Etymology[]
The generic name Talenkauen means "small skull", derived from the Aonikek words Talenk and Kauen. The specific name santacrucensis is derived from Santa Cruz, the name of the province in Argentina from which it was found.[4]
Classification[]
Talenkauen was originally placed as an Euiguanodontian in its description paper, being more derived than Gasparinisaura, but more basal to Dryomorpha than Anabisetia.[4] In a Septemember 2012 publication, Talenkauen was placed in a clade with Anabisetia, forming a sister taxon to Iguanodontia.[5]
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A 2013 study classified Talenkauen as an "Euiguanodontid" without comment.[6] In 2019 Talenkauen santacrucensis is placed within Elasmaria, due to similarities of features in the cervical vertebra which are shared with other members of the clade.[1]
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332843404_Osteology_of_the_Patagonian_ornithopod_Talenkauen_santacrucensis_Dinosauria_Ornithischia
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667119303659
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332843404_Osteology_of_the_Patagonian_ornithopod_Talenkauen_santacrucensis_Dinosauria_Ornithischia
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259975050_A_new_basal_iguanodontian_Dinosauria_Ornithischia_from_the_Upper_Cretaceous_of_Patagonia
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631068312000784
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1342937X12002870