Tapuiasaurus macedoi

Tapuiasaurus is the 17th Brazilian dinosaur described and the 9th titanosaur. The specimen bears a wonderfully preserved skull. Like most titanosaurs Tapuiasaurus possessed a large array of osteoderms along its back.

Name

Tapuiasaurus macedoi

Authority

Zaher & Carvalho, 2010

Meaning of generic name

Named after the tribe 'Tapuia' in the territory near where the specimen was found

Size

Body length: 13 m

Remains

Holotype: partial skeleton with a near complete skull

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Lower Cretaceous (Aptian)

Locality: Minas Gerais, Eastern Brazil

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Titanosauria

Further Reading

Zaher & Carvalho, 2010 PLoS (In press)

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Tapuiasaurus macedoi: