Spinostropheus gautieri

Name

Spinostropheus gautieri

Authority

Sereno, Conrad and Wilson, 2004 originally described as Elaphrosaurus gautieri, Lapparet, 1960

Meaning of generic name

Spine Vertebra in Greek. Named for the prominent epipophyseal processes on the cervical vertebrae and its moderate body size

[was earlier, with my earlier comment:]

Meaning of generic names

Spine Vertebra + turning in Greek. Named for the prominent epipophyseal [?] processes on the cervical vertebrae and – elaphrosaurus synonym – its moderate body size and its being a lizard

[“prominent epipophyseal [?] processes” = disease?]

Meaning of specific name

After Geologist F. Gautier

Size

Body length: 12 ft (4 m)

Remains

Holotype: Isolated mid-cervical vertebrae

Referred Specimen: MNN TIG6, articulated axial column preserving the third cervical to the anterior sacrals with complete cervical and more fragmentary dorsal ribs. Cervical and dorsal vertebrae overlap with the holotypic specimen.

[Neither head nor extremities!]

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Tiouraren Formation, Irhazer Group, Lower Cretaceous Period (Lower Berriasian - Upper Barremian)

Locality: Niger, Africa

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Theropoda Ceratosauria

Further Reading

Lapparent (1960). "Les dinosauriens du 'Continental intercalaire' du Sahara central." Mem. Soc. Geol. France. 88A:1-57.

Sereno, P.C., Wilson, J.A., & Conrad, J.L. 2004. New dinosaurs link southern landmasses in the Mid-Cretaceous. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences 271: 1325-1330.

[Earlier also]

Synonyms

Elaphrosaurus gautieri

Spinophorosaurus nigerensis

Spinophorosaurus is a basal sauropod from the Middle Jurassic of Niger. Known from two almost complete skeletons, it is to date the most complete basal sauropod discovered. It has a number of features that make it a close relative of the Asian basal sauropods such as Shunosaurus, rahter than to the Gondwanan genera. Spiky osteoderms found in association with the skeletons were probably placed at the end of the tail in the living animal to serve as a defense against predators.

Name

Spinophorosaurus nigerensis

Authority

Remes, Ortega, Fierro, Joger, Kosma and Ferrer, 2009

Meaning of generic name

The genus name refers to the presence of spikebearing osteoderms, Latin spina, spike, Greek phoro, to bear, and sauros, lizard

Meaning of specific name

[from Niger]

Size

Length: 13 m

Remains

Holotype (GCP-CV-4229 and NMB-1699-R): partial skull and nearly complete postcranial skeleton.

Paratype: NMB-1698-R, a partial skull and incomplete postcranial skeleton.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: base of the Irhazer Group, possibly Middle Jurassic (Bajocian-Bathonian) or even Lower Jurassic.

Locality: Thirozerine Dept., Agadez Region, Republic of Niger.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropoda

Further Reading

Remes, K., Ortega, F., Fierro, I., Joger, U., Kosma, R. and Ferrer, J.M.M. 2009. A new basal sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Niger and the early evolution of sauropoda. PLoS ONE, 4(9): e6924.

Saharastega moradiensis

Saharastega is the most primitive Temnospondyl from Gondwana related to the Edopoidea, a group that flourished during the Late Carboniferous.

Saharastega lived during the Upper Permian Period and was discovered in the Moradi formation, Northwestern Niger. It is suggested that along with Nigerpeton, Saharastega is the most primitive known temnospondyli and estimated at a length of 1.8 metres (5.9 feet). The rocks entombing Saharastega suggest an aquatic habitat with evidence of an oasis.

Name

Saharastega moradiensis

Authority

Sidor, O'Keefe, Damiani, Steyer, Smith, Larsson, Sereno, Ide and Maga, 2005

Meaning of generic name

Sahara, for the Sahara Desert, and stege (Greek), meaning roof

Meaning of specific name

Moradi, the formation from which the fossil was recovered, and ending -ensis (Latin), referring to place or locality or other of sth’s origin or habitat.

Size

Skull length: 45 cm , Length: .

Remains

Holotype (MNN MOR73): nearly complete skull lacking lower jaws.

Referred materials: [none so far?]

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Moradi Formation (Izégouandane Group, Izégouandane Basin), Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian).

Locality: 20 km west of Arlit, north-central Niger.

Classification

Temnospondyli

Further Reading

Sidor, C. A., F. R. O’Keefe, R. Damiani, J.-S. Steyer, R. M. H. Smith, H. C. E. Larsson, P. C. Sereno, O. Ide, and A. Maga. 2005. Permian tetrapods from the Sahara show climate-controlled endemism in Pangaea. Nature 434:886–889.

Damiani, R., C.A. Sidor, J.-S. Steyer, R.M.H. Smith, F.R. O'Keefe, H.C.E. Larsson, A. Maga, O. Ide. The vertebrate fauna of the Upper Permian of Niger—V, The primitive temnospondyl Saharastega moradiensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26: 559-572

Nigersaurus taqueti

Nigersaurus is the most common vertebrate fossil from the Nigerian Elrhaz Formation. It had hundreds of very small sharp teeth and its skull was oriented downward indicating it was a low level browser.

Name

Nigersaurus taqueti

Authority

Sereno, Beck, Dutheil, Larsson, Lyon, Moussa, Sadleir, Sidor, Varricchio, Wilson G. P. & Wilson, J. A. 1999

Meaning of generic name

Niger, for the Republique du Niger; sauros, lizard (Greek).

Meaning of specific name

In honour of French paleontologist Philippe Taquet.

Size

Length: 9 m, Skull length:

Remains

Holotype (MNN GAD512): Partial articulated skeleton that includes a partial skull, neck, scapula, forelimbs, and hind limbs

Referred materials: Several partial skeletons and isolated bones.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Elrhaz Formation, Tegama Group. Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian). Locality: Gadoufaoua region, Niger.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Diplodocoidea Rebbachisauridae

Further Reading

P. C. Sereno, A. L. Beck, D. B. Dutheil, H. C. E. Larsson, G. H. Lyon, B. Moussa, R. W. Sadleir, C. A. Sidor, D. J. Varricchio, G. P. Wilson, and J. A. Wilson. 1999. Cretaceous sauropods from the Sahara and the uneven rate of skeletal evolution among dinosaurs. Science 286:1342-1347.

P. C. Sereno and J. A. Wilson. 2005. Structure and evolution of a sauropod tooth battery. In J. A. Wilson & K. A. Curry Rogers (eds.), The Sauropods: Evolution and Paleobiology. University of California Press, Berkeley 157-177.

P.C. Sereno, J.A. Wilson L.M. Witmer J.A. Whitlock, A. Maga A, et al. 2007 Structural Extremes in a Cretaceous Dinosaur. PLoS ONE 2(11): e1230.

Synonyms

Rebbachisaurus tamesnensis Lapparent, 1960

Kryptops palaios

Kryptops palaios is a basal abelisaurid from the Early Cretaceous of Niger. Described by Sereno and Brusatte in 2008, it is known by fragmentary remains that hint to a theropod with short and broad snout and tall vertebral spines. Its length is estimated to be 6-7 m. Contemporary dinosaurs include the fish eating theropod Suchomimus and the unusual ornithopod Ouranosaurus.

Name

Kryptops palaios

Authority

Sereno & Brusatte, 2008

Meaning of generic name

From Greek krypto, covered; ops, face.

Meaning of specific name

From Greek palaios, old

Size

Length: 6-7 m

Remains

Holotype (MNN GAD1): partial skeleton including a left maxilla, several partial vertebrae and ribs, and an articulated pelvic girdle and sacrum

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Elrhaz Formation. Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian)

Locality: “Gadoufaoua” on the western edge of the Ténéré Desert, Niger.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Theropoda Ceratosauria Abelisauroidea Abelisauridae

Further Reading

P. C. Sereno and S. L. Brusatte. 2008. Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53(1):15-46.

Eocarcharia dinops

Eocarcharia from the Early Cretaceous of Niger is a basal Carcharodontosaurid closely related to the North American tall-spined Acrocanthosaurus. First described by Sereno and Brusatte in 2008 together with the basal ablisaur Kryptops, it is known from fragmentary skull materials and teeth.

Name

Eocarcharia dinops

Authority

Sereno & Brusatte, 2008

Meaning of generic name

Dawn Shark

Meaning of specific name

Scary face

Size

Length: ? m

Remains

Skull fragments and isolated teeth.

Age and Distribution

Gadoufaoua, Elrhaz Formation (Aptian/Albian terrestrial horizon) Niger

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Theropoda Carnosauria Carcharodontosauridae

Further Reading

P. C. Sereno and S. L. Brusatte. 2008. Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53(1):15-46.

Rebbachisaurus garasbae

Rebbachisaurus was a large sauropod dinosaur that grew to lengths of around 20 metres. This animal had a very long neck, small head and whip like tail, which are all common features of sauropods. Rebbachisaurus lived alongside many carnivorous (meat eating) dinosaurs, like Carcharodontosaurus, Rebbachisaurus size was its main defense. One species is presently recognized, R. garasbae, the type species from Morocco. "R. tamesnensis" from Niger is considered a subjective synonym of Nigersaurus taqueti. "R. tessonei" from Argentina has been transferred to the genus Limaysaurus.

Name

Rebbachisaurus garasbae

Authority

Lavocat, 1954

Meaning of generic name

“Rebbach lizard”

Size

Length: 20 m, Skull length:

Remains

Holotype (MNHN): postcranial elements (scapula, a humerus, caudal dorsal vetebrae)

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Tegana Formation. Lower Cretaceous (Albian).

Locality: Ksar-es-Souk, Morocco.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Diplodocoidea Rebbachisauridae

Further Reading

R. Lavocat. 1954. Sur les dinosauriens du Continental Intercalaire des Kem-Kem de la Daoura [On the dinosaurs from the Continental Intercalaire of the Kem Kem of the Doura]. Comptes Rendus 19th Intenational Geological Congress, 1952 1:65-68.

Images

February 25, 2009, by Nobu Tamura

October 23, 2011, by Nobu Tamura

Blog post by Nobu Tamura (images above are from his other blog Spinops

Paleoexhibit : A New Rebbachisaurid Sauropod from the Isle of Wight.
http://paleoexhibit.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-rebbachisaurid-sauropod-from-isle.html