Xenotarsosaurus is an Abelisaurid that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in South America. It is one of the lesser-known Abelisaurids. The type species is Xenotarsosaurus bonapartei.
Description[]
The remains show some similarities to Carnotaurus sastrei, causing the describers to assign Xenotarsosaurus to the Abelisauridae, which has remained a common determination. However, it has also been proposed that Xenotarsosaurus is a neoceratosaurian of uncertain affinities. The type specimens (and only known fossils of Xenotarsosaurus) were found in the Bajo Barreal Formation. In 1986 this formation was seen as Campanian; today it is thought to date to the earlier Cenomanian–Turonian.
Discovery[]
In 1980 geologist Juan Carlos Sciutto discovered a rich fossil site six kilometres north of the Ocho Hermanos ranch in Chubut province. Among the fossils found there were some theropod remains. Later, a team led by Argentinian paleontologist José Fernando Bonaparte recovered some more theropod bones, possibly from the same individual.
In 1986, Rubén Martínez, Olga Giménez, Jorge Rodríguez and Graciela Bochatey described the theropod fossils and coined the genus and species Xenotarsosaurus bonapartei for them. The generic name is derived from Greek xenos, " tarsos,", and sauros, "lizard", a reference to the exceptional build of the ankle. The specific name is named after Bonaparte.
Other Wikis[]
References[]
- https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA384209285&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=05677920&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E54a6bc30
- https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA384209284&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=05677920&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E138f6e8d
- https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4966171.html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667116301902?via%3Dihub
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262222847_A_new_Abelisauridae_Dinosauria_Theropoda_from_northwest_Patagonia
In Popular Culture[]
- Xenotarsosaurus makes an appearance in Dinosaur Train in the 4th & final episode of the 4 part Dinosaur Train Adventure "Dinosaurs A to Z".