LATE JURASSIC SAUROPODS IN CHILEAN PATAGONIA
Abstract
A description is provided of the first sauropod remains (i.e., isolated vertebrae and appendicular bones) from the Late Jurassic of Aysén, in Chilean Patagonia (Toqui Formation, late Tithonian). Although the bones found are fragmentary, they still allow the recognition of an unsuspected sauropod diversity for this period in South America. The materials suggest the presence of at least three different sauropod lineages: an indeterminate group of sauropods, possible Titanosauriformes, and Diplodocoidea. A phylogenetic analysis of this last clade supports the placement of the remains within Diplodocinae and also provides the first unequivocal record of this clade in Late Jurassic rocks of South America. These records provide important information about the poorly known evolutionary history of sauropods in South America before the Cretaceous. Resumen. SAURÓPODOS DEL JURÁSICO SUPERIOR EN LA PATAGONIA CHILENA. Se describen los primeros restos de saurópodos (i.e., vertebras aisladas y huesos apendiculares) del Jurásico Tardío de Aysén, en la Patagonia chilena (Formación Toqui, Titoniano tardío). Aunque fragmentarios, los huesos disponibles permiten el reconocimiento de una insospechada diversidad de saurópodos para ese periodo en América del Sur. Los materiales indican la presencia de, al menos, tres diferentes linajes de saurópodos: un grupo indeterminado de saurópodos, posibles Titanosauriformes y Diplodocoidea. Dentro de este último clado, un análisis filogenético ubica los restos dentro de Diplodocinae y provee el primer registro inequívoco de este clado para el Jurásico Tardío de América del Sur. Estos registros proveen información importante acerca de la pobremente conocida historia evolutiva de los saurópodos sudamericanos, previa al Cretácico.Downloads
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