Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Taphonomy: Overview and New Perspectives Related to the Paleobiology of Giants

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
South American Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs

Part of the book series: Springer Earth System Sciences ((SPRINGEREARTH))

Abstract

Most taphonomy studies of South American sauropodomorphs have addressed extrinsic factors such as sedimentary environments, bone dispersal, and mineralogical processes that occurred during fossil diagenesis. These studies provide important data on the taphonomic modes which are associated with bone accumulations in different paleoenvironmental contexts. However, these analyses have generally not considered intrinsic factors like the shape, size, and structural integrity of the skeletal elements, variables that can produce some taphonomic bias. Sauropodomorphs include dinosaurs of highly varied sizes, ranging from small (less than 8 m long) to remarkably giant forms (around 30 m long). In the largest sauropods, such as the huge titanosaurs, very incomplete skeletons are commonly found and most notably skull and articulated pedes rarely are preserved. We focus here on some intrinsic anatomical factors as they relate to articulation in some key parts of the skeletons. Further, this study suggests that the preservation of fragile portions of sauropodomorph skeletons was possible only under specific combinations of sedimentological and biological processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abler WL (1985) Skulls in fossil material: one mechanism contributing to their rarity. J Paleontol 249–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcalá L (1994) Macromamíferos Neógenos de la fosa de Alfambra-Teruel. Instituto de Estudios Turolenses y Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, p 554

    Google Scholar 

  • Apesteguía S (2004) Bonitasaura salgadoi gen. et sp. nov.: a beaked sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Naturwissenschaften 91(10):493–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Apesteguía S (2007) The sauropod diversity of the La Amarga Formation (Barremian), Neuquén (Argentina). Gondwana Res 12(4):533–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apesteguía S, Soto J, Gallina P, Granda J, Guaman G (2019) The first dinosaur remains from the Cretaceous of Ecuador. Cretac Res 108:104345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2019.104345

  • Arribas A, Palmqvist P (1998) Taphonomy and palaeoecology of an assemblage of large mammals: hyaenid activity in the Lower Pleistocene site at Venta Micena (Orce, Guadix-Baza, Granada, Spain). Geobios 31(3):3–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandeira KL, Medeiros Simbras F, Batista Machado E, de Almeida Campos D, Oliveira GR, Kellner AWA (2016) A new giant Titanosauria (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous Bauru Group, Brazil. PLoS One 11(10):e0163373

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK (1975) The Taphonomy and paleoecology of Plio-Pleistocene vertebrate assemblages of Lake Rudolf, Kenya. Bull Mus Comp Zool 146:473–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK (1978) Taphonomic and ecologic information from bone weathering. Paleobiology 4:150–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK (1988) Vertebrate preservation in fluvial channels. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 63:183–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK, Dechant Boaz DE (1980) The recent bones of Amboseli National Park, Kenya, in relation to East African paleoecology. In: Behrensmeyer AK, Hill AP (eds) Fossils in the making: vertebrate taphonomy and paleoecology, pp 72–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK, Kidwell SM (1985) Taphonomy’s contributions to paleobiology. Paleobiology 11:105–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK, Hook RW (1992) Paleoenviromental contexts and taphonomic modes. In: Behrensmeyer AK, Damuth J, Di Michele W, Potts R, Sues H-D, Wings S (eds) Terrestrial ecosystems through time: evolutionary paleoecology of terrestrial plants and animals. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 15–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK, Western KD, Boaz D (1979) New perspectives in vertebrate paleoecology from a recent bone assemblage. Paleobiology 5:12–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behrensmeyer AK, Kidwell SM, Gastaldo RA (2000) Taphonomy and paleobiology. Paleobiology 26(4):103–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1972) Los tetrápodos del sector superior de la Formación Los Colorados, La Rioja, Argentina (Triásico superior). Opera Lilloana 22:1–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1978) El mesozoico de América del Sur y sus tetrápodos (geología, reptiles). Opera Lilloana 26:1–596

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1996) Cretaceous tetrapods of Argentina. In: Arratia G (ed) Contribution of Sourthern South America to Vertebrate Paleontology, Münchner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen (A), München 30:73–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1997) Rayososaurus agrioensis Bonaparte 1995. Ameghiniana 34:116

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1999a) Evolución de las vértebras presacras en Sauropodomorpha. Ameghiniana 36:115–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1999b) An armoured sauropod from the Aptian of northern Patagonia, Argentina. In: Proceedings of the second Gondwanan Dinosaur symposium, vol 15. National Science Museum Monographs, pp 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF, Vince M (1979) El hallazgo del primer nido de dinosaurios triásicos (Saurischia, Prosauropoda), Triásico Superior de Patagonia, Argentina. Ameghiniana 16:173–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF, Powell JE (1980) A continental assemblage of tetrapods from the Upper Cretaceous beds of El Brete, northwestern Argentina (Sauropoda-Coelurosauria-Carnosauria-Aves). Mémoires de la Société géologique de France, Serie 139:19–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF, Coria RA (1993) Un nuevo y gigantesco saurópodo titanosaurio de la Formación Río Limay (Albiano-Cenomaniano) de la Provincia del Neuquén, Argentina. Ameghiniana 30:271–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF, González Riga BJ, Apesteguía S (2006) Ligabuesaurus leanzai gen. et sp. nov. (Dinosauria, Sauropoda), a new titanosaur from the Lohan Cura Formation (Aptian, lower Cretaceous) of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Cretac Res 27(3):364–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonnan M (2005) Pes anatomy in sauropod dinosaurs: implications for functional morphology, evolution, and phylogeny. In: Tidwell V, Carpenter K (eds) Thunder-Lizards: the sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, pp 346–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Borsuk-Bialynicka M (1977) A new camarasaurid sauropod Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii, gen. n., sp. n. from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. Palaeont Pol 37:1–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Botfalvai G, Csiki-Sava Z, Grigorescu D, Vasile S (2017) Taphonomical and palaeoecological investigation of the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Tuştea vertebrate assemblage (Romania; Haţeg Basin)—insights into a unique dinosaur nesting locality. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 468:228–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett CE, Speyer SE (1990) Taphofacies. In: Briggs DEG, Crowther RR (eds) Palaeobiology: a synthesis. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 258–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JO, Bonaparte JF (1991) Andesaurus delgadoi gen. et. sp. nov. (Saurischia-Sauropoda), dinosaurio Titanosauridae de la Formación Río Limay (Albiano-Cenomaniano), Neuquén Argentina. Ameghiniana 28:303–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JO, Salgado L (1995) Rebbachisaurus tessonei sp. nov. A new Sauropoda from the Albian-Cenomanian of Argentina; new evidence on the origin of the Diplodocidae. Gaia 11:13–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JO, González Riga BJ (2003) Rinconsaurus caudamirus gen. et sp. nov., a new titanosaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. Revista Geológica de Chile 30(2):333–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JO, Porfiri JD (2010) Panamericansaurus schroederi gen. nov. sp. nov. un nuevo Sauropoda (Titanosauridae-Aeolosaurini) de la Provincia del Neuquén, Cretácico Superior de Patagonia, Argentina. Braz Geogr J: Geosci HumIties Res Mediu 1:100–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JO, González Riga BJ (2018) Baalsaurus mansillai gen. et sp. nov. a new titanosaurian sauropod (Late Cretaceous) from Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 91(2):e20180661. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201820180661

  • Calvo JO, González Riga BJ, Porfiri JD (2007a) A new titanosaur sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Arquivos do Museu Nacional 65(4): 485–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JO, Porfiri JD, González Riga BJ, Kellner AWA (2007b) A new terrestrial ecosystem from Gondwana with the description of a new sauropod dinosaur. An Acad Bras Ciênc 79(3):529–541. https://doi.org/10.1590/50001-37652007000300013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JO, Porfiri JD, González Riga BJ, Kellner AWA (2007b) Anatomy of Futalognkosaurus dukei Calvo, Porfiri, González Riga and Kellner, 2007c (Dinosauria, Titanosauridae) from the Neuquén Group (Late Cretaceous), Patagonia, Argentina. Arquivos do Museu Nacional 65(4):511–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Campos DDA, Kellner AWA, Bertini RJ, Santucci RM (2005) On a titanosaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) vertebral column from the Bauru group, Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Arquivos do Museu Nacional 63(3):565–593

    Google Scholar 

  • Carballido JL, Salgado L, Pol D, Canudo JI, Garrido A (2012) A new basal rebbachisaurid (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from the Early Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin: evolution and biogeography of the group. Hist Biol 24:631–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carballido JL, Pol D, Parra Ruge ML, Padilla Bernal S, Páramo-Fonseca ME, Etayo-Serna F (2015) A new Early Cretaceous brachiosaurid (Dinosauria, Neosauropoda) from northwestern Gondwana (Villa de Leiva, Colombia). J Vertebr Paleontol 35(5):e980505

    Google Scholar 

  • Carballido JL, Pol D, Otero A, Cerda IA, Salgado L, Garrido AC, Ramezani J, Cúneo NR, Krause JM (2017) A new giant titanosaur sheds light on body mass evolution among sauropod dinosaurs. Proc R Soc B: Biol Sci 284(1860):20171219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter K (2020) Use of scaled dinosaur bones in taphonomic water flume experiments. Sci Nat 107:15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-020-01673-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho IS, Santos Avilla L, Salgado L (2003) Amazonsaurus maranhensis gen. et sp. nov. (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) of Brazil. Cretac Res 24:697–713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho IS, Salgado L, Lindoso RM, de Araújo-Júnior HI, Nogueira FCC, Soares JÁ (2017) A new basal titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. J S Am Earth Sci 75:74–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA (2015) Paleontología, tafonomía y paleoambientes en yacimientos con dinosaurios del Cretácico Superior, Patagonia central, Argentina. (Unpublished Ph.D. tesis). Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Comodoro Rivadavia. Chubut, Argentina, p 274

    Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA, Nillni AM (2020) Mineralogía y geoquímica de huesos de dinosaurios del Cretácico Superior del Grupo Chubut Argentina. Rev Soc Geol Esp 33(1):11–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA, Martínez RD, Luna M, Sciutto JC, Lamanna MC (2007) Aeolosaurus colhuehuapensis sp. nov. (Saurópoda, Titanosauria) de la Formación Bajo Barreal, Cretácico Superior de Argentina. Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia 10:53–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casal G, Martínez R, Luna M, Ivany E, Ibiricu LM (2010) Un nuevo titanosaurio articulado de la Formación Bajo Barreal, Cretácico Superior tardío del Sur de Chubut. Asp ambient y tafonómicos. Ameghiniana 47(4):6R

    Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA, Ibiricu LM, Allard JO, Martínez RD, Luna M, González Riga BJ (2014a) Tafonomía del titanosaurio Aeolosaurus colhuehuapensis, Cretácico Superior, Patagonia central, Argentina: un ejemplo de preservación en facies continentales fluviales. Rev Mex Cienc Geol 31:163–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA, Foix N, Allard JO, González Riga BJ, Ibiricu LM (2014b) Controles tafonómicos y sedimentológicos en la preservación de dinosaurios en la Fm. Bajo Barreal, Cretácico Superior, Patagonia Argentina. Actas XIX Cong Geol Arg. Córdoba, Argentina, S7-3, pp 777–778

    Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA, Foix N, Ibiricu LM, Martínez RD, Luna M (2017a) Tafonomía de un saurópodo (Dinosauria) de la Formación Bajo Barreal (Cretácico Superior). Análisis de atributos bioestratinómicos y sedimentológicos. Libro de Resúmenes V Jornadas de las Ciencias de la Tierra “Dr. Eduardo Musacchio” (De Sosa Tomas, Casal, Castro eds.), UNPSJB. Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, pp 31–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA, Nillni AM, Valle MN, González Sbovoda E, Tiedemann C (2017b) Permineralización de restos de dinosaurios preservados en depósitos de desbordamiento de la Formación Bajo Barreal (Cretácico Superior), Patagonia central, Argentina. Rev Mex Cien Geol 34:12–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Casal GA, Nillni AM, Valle MN, González Svoboda E, Tiedemann C, Ciapparelli H, Ibiricu LM, Luiz MM (2019) Fosildiagénesis en restos de dinosaurios preservados en depósitos fluviales de la Formación Lago Colhué Huapi (Cretácico Superior). Cuenca del Golfo San Jorge, Argentina. Andean Geol 46(3):670–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashmore DD, Mannion PD, Upchurch P, Butler RJ (2020) Ten more years of discovery: revisiting the quality of the sauropodomorph dinosaur fossil record. Palaeontology 63(6):951–978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiappe LM, Coria R (2004) Auca Mahuevo, un extraordinario sitio de nidificación de dinosaurios saurópodos del Cretácico Tardío, Neuquén Argentina. Ameghiniana 41:591

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiappe LM, Coria RA, Dingus L, Jackson F, Chinsamy A, Fox M (1998) Sauropod dinosaur embryos from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature 396:258–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiappe LM, Schmitt JG, Jackson FD, Garrido A, Dingus L, Grellet-Tinner G (2004) Nest structure for sauropods: sedimentary criteria for recognition of dinosaur nesting traces. Palaios 19(1):89–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiappe LM, Jackson F, Coria RA, Dingus L (2005) Nesting titanosaurs from Auca Mahuevo and adjacent sites: understanding sauropod reproductive behavior and embryonic development. In: Curry Rogers KA, Wilson JA (eds) The sauropods: evolution and paleobiology. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 285–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Cladera G, Limarino C, Alonso MS, Rauhut O (2004) Controles estratigráficos en la preservación de restos de vertebrados en la Formación Cerro Barcino (Cenomaniano), Provincia del Chubut. AAS Revista 11:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobley M, Rayfield E, Barrett PM (2013) Intervertebral flexibility of the ostrich neck: implications for estimating sauropod neck flexibility. PLoS ONE 8:e72187

    Google Scholar 

  • Colombi CE, Rogers RR, Alcober OA (2012) Vertebrate taphonomy of the Ischigualasto Formation. J Vertebr Paleontol 32(1):31–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colombi CE, Limarino CO, Alcober OA (2017) Allogenic controls on the fluvial architecture and fossil preservation of the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation NW Argentina. Sediment Geol 362:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.10.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coombs MC, Coombs WP (1997) Analysis of the geology, fauna, and taphonomy of Morava Ranch Quarry, early Miocene of northwest Nebraska. Palaios 12(2):165–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coria RA (1994) On a monospecific assemblage of sauropod dinosaurs from Patagonia: implications for gregarious behavior. Gaia 10:209–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Coria RA, Filippi LS, Chiappe LM, Garcia R, Arcucci AB (2013) Overosaurus paradasorum gen. et sp. nov., a new sauropod dinosaur (Titanosauria: Lithostrotia) from the Late Cretaceous of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Zootaxa 3683(4):357–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Coria RA, Windholz GJ, Ortega F, Currie PJ (2019) A new dicraeosaurid sauropod from the Lower Cretaceous (Mulichinco Formation, Valanginian, Neuquén Basin) of Argentina. Cretac Res 93:33–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz I (2015) Las investigaciones sobre preservación de huesos de aves y mamíferos grandes en Patagonia (Argentina). Archaeofauna 24:209–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Csiki Z, Grigorescu D, Codrea V, Therrien F (2010) Taphonomic modes in the Maastrichtian continental deposits of the Hațeg Basin, Romania, palaeoecological and palaeobiological inferences. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 293:375–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.10.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de la Fuente M, Maniel I, Jannello M, Sterli J, Garrido A, Garcia R, Salgado L, Canudo J, Bolatti R (2017) Unusual shell anatomy and osteohistology in a new Late Cretaceous panchelid turtle from northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Acta Palaeontol Pol 62. https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00340.2017

  • Del Corro G (1975) Un nuevo saurópodo del Cretácico Superior, Chubutisaurus insignis gen. et sp. nov. (Saurischia, Chubutisauridae, nov.) del Cretácico Superior (Chubutiano), Chubut, Argentina. En: 1° Congreso Argentino de Paleontología y Bioestratigrafía. Actas 2:229–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Dingus L, Clarke J, Scott GR, Swisher C, Chiappe LM, Coria RA (2000) Stratigraphy and magnetostratigraphic/faunal constraints for the age of sauropod embryo-bearing rocks in the Neuquén Group (late Cretaceous, Neuquén Province, Argentina). Am Mus Novit 3290:11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodson P (1971) Sedimentology and taphonomy of the Oldman Formation (Campanian), Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta (Canada). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 10:21–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eberth DA, Brinkman DB, Chen PJ, Yuan FT, Wu SZ, Gang L, Cheng XS (2001) Sequence stratigraphy, paleoclimate patterns and vertebrate fossil preservation in Jurassic-Cretaceous strata of the Junggar basin, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic China. Can J Earth Sci 38:1627–1644

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberth DA, Xing XU, Clark JM (2010) Dinosaur death pits from the Jurassic of China. Palaios 25:112–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ezcurra MD (2010) A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic of Argentina: a reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny. J Syst Palaeontol 8:371–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ezcurra MD, Apaldetti C (2011) A robust sauropodomorph specimen from the Upper Triassic of Argentina and insights on the diversity of the Los Colorados Formation. Proc Geologist’s Assoc 123:155–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fastovsky DED, Badamgarav H, Ishimoto M, Watabe M, Weishampel DB (1997) The paleoenvironments of Tugrikin-shireh (Gobi Desert, Mongolia) and aspects of the taphonomy and paleoecology of Protoceratops (Dinosauria: Ornithischia). Palaios 12:59–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filippi LS, Garrido AC (2008) Pitekunsaurus macayai gen. et sp. nov., nuevo titanosaurio (Saurischia, Sauropoda) del Cretácico Superior de la Cuenca Neuquina, Argentina. Ameghiniana 45(3):575–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Filippi LS, García RA, Garrido AC (2011) A new titanosaur sauropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Patagonia Argentina. Acta Palaeontol Pol 56(3):505–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filippi LS, Salgado L, Garrido AC (2019) A new giant basal titanosaur sauropod in the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of the Neuquen Basin, Argentina. Cretac Res 100:61–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiorelli LE, Grellet-Tinner G, Alasino PH, Argañaraz E (2012) The geology and palaeoecology of the newly discovered Cretaceous neosauropod hydrothermal nesting site in Sanagasta (Los Llanos Formation), La Rioja, northwest Argentina. Cretac Res 35:94–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorelli LE, Grellet-Tinner G, Argañaraz E, Salgado L (2013) Tafonomía del sitio de nidificación de neosaurópodos de Sanagasta (La Rioja, Argentina): ejemplo de preservación excepcional en un paleoambiente hidrotermal del Cretácico. Ameghiniana 50(4):389–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorillo AR (1988) Taphonomy of Hazard Homestead Quarry (Ogallala Group), Hitchcock County, Nebraska. Contribut Geol University of Wyoming 26:57–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorillo AR (1991) Taphonomy and depositional setting of Careless Creek Quarry (Judith River Formation), Wheatland County, Montana, USA. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 81(3–4):281–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiorillo AR (1995) The possible influence of low temperature on bone weathering in Curecanti National recreation area, southwest Colorado. Curr Res Pleistocene 12:69–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorillo AR, May CL (1996) Preliminary report on the taphonomy and depositional setting of a new dinosaur locality in the Morrison Formation (Brushy Basin Member) of Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado. Bull MusM North Ariz 60:555–561

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorillo AR, Eberth DA (2004) Dinosaur taphonomy. In: Weishampel DB, Dodson P, Osmólska H (eds). University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, pp 607–613

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallina PA, Apesteguía S (2005) Cathartesaura anaerobica gen. et sp. nov., a new rebbachisaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Huincul Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Río Negro, Argentina. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 7(2):153–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallina PA, Apesteguía S, Haluza A, Canale JI (2014) A diplodocid sauropod survivor from the Early Cretaceous of South America. PLoS ONE 9(5):e97128. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097128

  • Gallina PA, Apesteguía S, Canale JI, Haluza A (2019) A new long-spined dinosaur from Patagonia sheds light on sauropod defense system. Sci Rep 9(1):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García RA, Salgado L, Coria RA, Chiappe LM (2010) Osteología embrionaria de saurópodos titanosaurios de Neuquén (Argentina): aspectos ontogenéticos y evolutivos. Ameghiniana 47:409–430. https://doi.org/10.5710/AMGH.v47i4.4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García R, Salgado L, Fernández M, Cerda I, Paulina Carabajal A, Otero A, Coria R, Fiorelli L (2014) Paleobiology of titanosaurs: reproduction, development, histology, pneumaticity, locomotion and neuroanatomy from the South American fossil record. Ameghiniana 52:29–68. https://doi.org/10.5710/AMGH.16.07.2014.829

  • Garrido AC (2010) Estratigrafía del Grupo Neuquén, Cretácico Superior de la Cuenca Neuquina (Argentina): nueva propuesta de ordenamiento litoestratigráfico. Buenos Aires Rev Mus Argent CiencS Nat 12(2):121–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Germonpré M (2003) Mammoth taphonomy of two fluvial sites from the Flemish Valley, Belgium. In: Reumer JWF, De Vos J, Mol D (eds) Advances in mammoth research (Proceedings of the second international mammoth conference, Rotterdam), DEINSEA 9, pp 171–183. ISSN 0923-9308

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh P, Sarkar S, Maulik P (2006) Sedimentology of a muddy alluvial deposit: Triassic Denwa Formation, India. Sediment Geol 191:3–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ (1999) Hallazgo de vertebrados fósiles en la Formación Loncoche, Cretácico Superior de la provincia de Mendoza, Argentina. Ameghiniana 36:401–410

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ (2003) A new titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Mendoza Province, Argentina. Ameghiniana 40:155–172

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ (2005) Nuevos restos fósiles de Mendozasaurus neguyelap (Sauropoda: Titanosauria) del Cretácico Tardío de Mendoza, Argentina. Ameghiniana 42:535–538

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ (2011) Speeds and stance of titanosaur sauropods: analysis of Titanopodus tracks from the Late Cretaceous of Mendoza Argentina. An Acad Bras Ciênc 83(1):279–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Astini R (2007) Fossil preservation of large titanosaur sauropods in overbank fluvial facies: a case study in the Cretaceous of Argentina. J S Am Earth Sci 23:290–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Calvo JO (2009) A new wide-gauge Sauropod track site from the Late Cretaceous of Mendoza, Neuquén Basin Argentina. Palaeontology 52(3):631–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Ortiz David LD (2014) A new titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous (Cerro Lisandro Formation) of Mendoza Province, Argentina. Ameghiniana 51:3–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Calvo JO, Previtera E (2007) Taphonomic analyses of titanosaur sauropods from the Neuquén Basin (Argentina) and their implications in systematic studies. Libro de Resúmenes IV Jornadas Internacionales sobre Paleontología de Dinosaurios y su entorno, Salas de los Infantes, Burgos, España, pp 73–76

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Calvo JO, Porfiri J (2008) An articulated titanosaur from Patagonia (Argentina): new evidence of neosauropod pedal evolution. Palaeoworld 17:33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Calvo JO, Previtera E (2009a) Taphonomic analyses of titanosaur sauropods from the Neuquén Basin (Argentina) and their implications in systematic studies. In: Colectivo Arqueológico y Paleontológico de Salas, CAS (eds) IV Jornadas Internacionales sobre Paleontología de Dinosaurios y su entorno. Burgos, España, pp 235–241

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Previtera E, Pirrone CA (2009b) Malarguesaurus florenciae gen. et sp. nov., a new titanosauriform (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Mendoza Argentina. Cretac Res 30:135–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Porfiri JD, Calvo JO, Dos Santos D, Ortiz David LD, Coelho F (2012) Hallazgo de titanosaurios parcialmente articulados en el sur de Mendoza (Argentina): contexto estratigráfico. Resúmenes XXVI Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de Vertebrados (Buenos Aires, 21–23 de mayo)

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Ortiz David LD, Londero S, Calvo JO, Porfiri JD, Dos Santos D (2013) Hallazgo de un gigantesco titanosaurio parcialmente articulado del Cretácico Tardío de Mendoza, Argentina. In: Abstract Book 1° Brazilian Dinosaur Symposium. Ituitaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil, p 35

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Ortiz David LD, Tomaselli MB, Candeiro C, Coria JP, Prámparo M (2015) Sauropod and theropod dinosaur tracks from the Upper Cretaceous of Mendoza (Argentina): trackmakers and anatomical evidences. J S Am Earth Sci 61:134–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Lamanna MC, Ortiz David LD, Calvo JO, Coria JP (2016) A gigantic new dinosaur from Argentina and the evolution of the sauropod hind foot. Scient Rep 6:19165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Mannion P, Poropat S, Ortiz David LD, Coria JP (2018) Osteology of the Late Cretaceous Argentinean sauropod dinosaur Mendozasaurus neguyelap: implications for basal titanosaur relationships. Zool J Lin Soc 184:136–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Lamanna MC, Otero A, Ortiz David LD, Kellner AWA, Ibiricu LM (2019) An overview of the appendicular skeletal anatomy of South American titanosaurian sauropods, with definition of a newly recognized clade. An Acad Bras Ciênc 91(2):e20180374

    Google Scholar 

  • González Riga BJ, Tomaselli MB (2019) Different trackway patterns in titanosaur sauropods: analysis of new Titanopodus tracks from the Upper Cretaceous of Mendoza, Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Cret Res 93:49–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grellet-Tinner G, Fiorelli LE (2010) A new Argentinean nesting site showing neosauropod dinosaur reproduction in a Cretaceous hydrothermal environment. Nat Commun 1:32. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1031

  • Grellet-Tinner G, Fiorelli LE, Salvador RB (2012) Water vapor conductance of the Lower Cretaceous dinosaurian eggs from Sanagasta, La Rioja, Argentina—Paleobiological and paleoecological implications for South American faveoloolithid and megaloolithid eggs. Palaios 27:35–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez MA, Rafuse DJ, Alvarez MC, Massigoge A, González ME, Scheifler NA, Kaufmann CA (2018) Ten years of actualistic taphonomic research in the Pampas region of Argentina: contributions to regional archaeology. Quat Int 492:40–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2017.09.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hechenleitner M, Leuzinger L, Martinelli A, Rocher S, Fiorelli L, Taborda J, Salgado L (2020) Two Late Cretaceous sauropods reveal titanosaurian dispersal across South America. Commun Biol 3(1):Article number 622. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01338-w

  • Holwerda FM, Pol D (2018) Phylogenetic analysis of Gondwanan basal eusauropods from the early-middle Jurassic of Patagonia Argentina. Span J Palaeontol 33(2):289–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huene F (1929) Los saurisquios y ornitisquios del Cretáceo Argentino. Anales del Museo de La Plata 3(2):1–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibiricu LM, Casal GA, Martínez RD, Lamanna MC, Salgado L (2013) Katepensaurus goicocheai gen. et sp. nov., a Late Cretaceous rebbachisaurid (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from central Patagonia, Argentina. J Vertebr Paleontol 33(6):1351–1366

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibiricu LM, Casal GA, Martínez RD, Lamanna MC, Luna M, Salgado L (2015) New material of Katepensaurus goicoecheai (Sauropoda: Diplodocoidea) and its significance for the morphology and evolution of Rebbachisauridae. Ameghiniana 52:430–446. https://doi.org/10.5710/AMGH.24.04.2015.2830

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juárez Valieri RD, Calvo JO (2011) Revision of MUCPv 204, a Senonian Basal Titanosaur from Northern Patagonia. In: Calvo JO, González Riga BJ, Porfiri JD, Dos Santos D (eds) Paleontología y Dinosaurios desde América Latina, pp 143–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellner AWA, Azevedo SAK (1999) A new sauropod dinosaur (Titanosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. In: Tomida Y, Rich TH, Vickers-Rich P (eds) Proceedings of the Gondwanan Dinosaur symposium, vol 15. National Science Museum Monograph, pp 111–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellner AWA, Campos DA, Trotta MN (2005) Description of a titanosaurid caudal series from the Bauru Group, Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Arquivos do Museu Nacional 63(3):529–564

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellner AWA, Campos D, De Azevedo S, Trotta M, Henriques D, Craik M, De Paula SH (2006) On a new titanosaur sauropod from the Bauru Group, Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Bol Mus Nac Nova Série 74:1–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellner AWA, Rubilar-Rogers D, Vargas A, Suárez M (2011) A new titanosaur sauropod from the Atacama Desert, Chile. An Acad Bras Ciênc 83:211–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein N, Christian A, Sander PM (2012) Histology shows that elongated neck ribs in sauropod dinosaurs are ossified tendons. Biol Lett 8:1032–1035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacovara KJ, Lamanna MC, Ibiricu LM, Poole JC, Schroeter ER, Ullmann PV, Voegele KK, Boles ZM, Carter AM, Fowler EK, Egerton VM, Moyer AE, Coughenour CL, Schein JP, Harris JD, Martínez RD, Novas FE (2014) A gigantic, exceptionally complete titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from Southern Patagonia Argentina. Sci Rep 4:6196. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep06196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovelace DM (2006) An Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation fire-induced debris flow: taphonomy and paleoenvironment of a sauropod (Sauropoda: Supersaurus vivianae) locality, east-central Wyoming. In: Foster JR, Lucas SG (eds) Paleontology and geology of the upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, vol 36. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, pp 47–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Lydekker R (1893) The Dinosaurs of Patagonia. An Del Mus Plata 2:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyman RL (1994) Vertebrate taphonomy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p 524

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lyman RL (1996) Applied zooarchaeology: the relevance of fauna analysis to wildlife management. World Archaeol 28(1):110–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyman RL, Fox GL (1989) A critical evaluation of bone weathering as an indication of bone assemblage formation. J Archaeol Sci 16(3):293–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-4403(89)90007-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machado E, Avilla L, Nava W, Campos D, Kellner AWA (2013) A new titanosaur sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Zootaxa 3701:301–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mannion PD, Upchurch P (2010) Completeness metrics and the quality of the sauropodomorph fossil record through geological and historical time. Paleobiology 36(2):283–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mannion PD, Otero A (2012) A reappraisal of the Late Cretaceous Argentinean sauropod dinosaur Argyrosaurus superbus, with a description of a new titanosaur genus. J Vertebr Paleontol 32:614–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mannion PD, Upchurch P, Barnes R, Mateus O (2013) Osteology of the Late Jurassic Portuguese sauropod dinosaur Lusotitan atalaiensis (Macronaria) and the evolutionary history of basal titanosauriforms. Zool J Lin Soc 168:98–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinelli AG, Forasiepi AM (2004) Late Cretaceous vertebrates from Bajo de Santa Rosa (Allen Formation), Río Negro Province, Argentina, with the description of a new sauropod dinosaur (Titanosauridae). Rev Mus Argent Cienc Nat 6:57–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez RN, Alcober OA (2009) A basal sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from the Ischigualasto Formation (Triassic, Carnian) and the Early evolution of Sauropodomorpha. PLoS ONE 4:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez RD, Giménez O, Rodríguez J, Luna M, Lamanna MC (2004) An articulated specimen of the basal Titanosaurian (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) Epachthosaurus sciuttoi from the Early Late Cretaceous Bajo Barreal Formation of Chubut Province, Argentina. J Vertebr Paleontol 24:107–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez RN, Sereno PC, Alcober OA, Colombi CE, Renne PR, Montañez IP, Currie BS (2011) A basal dinosaur from the dawn of the dinosaur era in Southwestern Pangaea. Science 331:206–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez RN, Apaldetti C, Alcober OA, Colombi C, Sereno PC, Fernandez E, Santi Malnis P, Correa G, Abelín D (2013) Vertebrate succession in the Ischigualasto Formation. In: Sereno PC (ed) Basal sauropodomorphs and the vertebrate fossil record of the Ischigualasto Formation (Late Triassic: Carnian–Norian) of Argentina, vol 12. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir, pp 10–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez R, Apaldetti C, Correa G, Colombi C, Fernandez E, Santi Malnis P, Pradeiro A, Abelin D, Benegas G, Aguilar-Cameo A, Alcober O (2015) A new late triassic vertebrate assemblage from northwestern argentina. Ameghiniana 52. https://doi.org/10.5710/AMGH.27.04.2015.2889

  • Martínez RD, Lamanna MC, Novas FE, Ridgely RC, Casal GA, Martínez JE, Vita JR, Witmer LM (2016) A basal lithostrotian titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) with a complete skull: implications for the evolution and paleobiology of Titanosauria. PLoS One 11:e0151661

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh JS (1990) Sauropoda. In: Weishampel DB, Dodson P, Osmólska H (eds) The Dinosauria. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 345–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Miall AD (1996) The geology of fluvial deposits. Springer, Berlin, p 582

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore JR, Norman DB (2009) Quantitatively evaluating the sources of taphonomic biasing of skeletal element abundances in fossil assemblages. Palaios 24:591–602. https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2008.p08-135r

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller RT, Silva Garcia M, Stock Da-Rosad AA, Dias-da-Silva S (2018) Under pressure: effect of sedimentary compression on the iliac morphology of early sauropodomorphs. J S Am Earth Sci 88:345–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz AS, Mondini M, Durán V, Gasco A (2008) Los pumas (Puma concolor) como agentes tafonómicos. Análisis actualístico de un sitio de matanza en los Andes de Mendoza Argentina. Geobios 41:123–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geobios.2006.11.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers TS, Storrs GW (2007) Taphonomy of the mother’s day quarry, upper jurassic morrison formation, South-Central Montana, USA. Palaios 22:651–666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers TS, Fiorillo AR (2009) Evidence for gregarious behavior and age segregation in sauropod dinosaurs. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 274(1–2):96–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nair J, Salisbury S (2012) New Anatomical Information on Rhoetosaurus brownei Longman, 1926, a Gravisaurian Sauropodomorph Dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Queensland, Australia. J Vertebr Paleontol 32:369–394. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2012.622324

  • Navarrete C, Casal GA, Martínez RD (2011) Drusilasaura deseadensis gen. et sp. nov., un nuevo titanosaurio (Dinosauria-Sauropoda) de la Formación Bajo Barreal, Cretácico Superior del Norte de Santa Cruz, Argentina. Rev Bras de Paleontol 14(1):1–14. https://doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2011.1.01

  • Novas FE, Salgado L, Calvo JO, Agnolin F (2005) Giant titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Nat 7:37–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Novas F, Agnolin F, Rozadilla S, Aranciaga-Rolando A, Brissón-Eli F, Motta M, Cerroni M, Ezcurra M, Martinelli A, D'Angelo J, Álvarez-Herrera J, Gentil A, Bogan S, Chimento N, García-Marsà J, Lo Coco G, Miquel S, Brito F, Vera E, Loinaze V, Fernandez M, Salgado L (2019) Paleontological discoveries in the Chorrillo Formation (upper Campanian–lower Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous), Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Nat 21(2):217–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Orr PJ, Adler LB, Beardmore SR, Furrer H, McNamara ME, Peñalver-Mollá E, Redelstorff R (2016) “Stick ‘n’ peel”: Explaining unusual patterns of disarticulation and loss of completeness in fossil vertebrates. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 457:380–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortiz David LD (2019) Análisis anatómico y filogenético de un pterosaurio gigante de Cuenca Neuquina, Mendoza, Argentina. (Unpubl. Ph.D. tesis). Universidad Nacional de Cuyo—ProBiol. Mendoza, Argentina, p 448

    Google Scholar 

  • Otero A (2018) Forelimb musculature and osteological correlates in Sauropodomorpha (Dinosauria, Saurischia). PLoS One 13(7):e0198988. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198988

  • Otero A, Pol D (2013) Postcranial anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Mussaurus patagonicus (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha). J Vertebr Paleontol 33:1138–1168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otero A, Perez, LM, Gaetano, L, Leardi, JM, Apaldeti, C, Krapovickas, V, Alonso Muruaga, PJ (2019a). Nuevos aportes al conocimiento de la fauna de tetrápodos de la Formación Los Colorados (Triásico Superior, Argentina): aspectos tafonómicos y paleobiogeográficos. In: II Simposio Internacional de Paleontología del Perú, pp 112–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Otero A, Cuff AR, Allen V, Sumner-Rooney L, Pol D, Hutchinson JR (2019b) Ontogenetic changes in the body plan of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Mussaurus patagonicus reveal shifts of locomotor stance during growth. Sci Rep 9:7614

    Google Scholar 

  • Otero A, Carballido JL, Salgado L, Canudo JI, Garrido A (2021) Report of a giant titanosaur sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous of Neuquen Province, Argentina. Cretac Res 122:104754

    Google Scholar 

  • Parras A, Casadio S, Pires M (1998) Secuencias depositacionales del Grupo Malargüe (límite Cretácico–Paleógeno), sur de la Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina. In: Casadío S (ed) Paleógeno de América del sur y de la Península Antártica. Pub Esp Asoc Paleontol Arg 5:181–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul GS (2019) Determining the largest known land animal: A critical comparison of differing methods for restoring the volume and mass of extinct animals (PDF). Ann Carnegie Mus 85(4):335–358. https://doi.org/10.2992/007.085.0403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereda-Suberbiola X, Astibia H, Murelaga X, Elorza JJ, Gómez-Alday JJ (2000) Taphonomy of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur-bearing beds of the Laño Quarry (Iberian Peninsula). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 157(3–4):247–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez LM, Otero A, Apesteguía S, Gallina P (2009) Estratigrafía y análisis tafonómico de Bonitasaura salgadoi Apesteguía, en el sitio La Bonita (Cretácico Superior, Río Negro, Argentina). Rev Mus Argent Cienc Nat 11:39–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfretzschner HU (2004) Fossilization of Haversian bone in aquatic environments. CR Palevol 3(6–7):605–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pino DA, Coria RA, Díaz-Martínez I, Tunik MA (2021) An accumulation of dinosaur remains in fluvial deposits of Mulichinco Formation (lower Valanginian, Neuquén Basin), Patagonia, Argentina: Taphonomic and paleoenvironmental inferences. J S Am Earth Sci 105:102979

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirrone C, Buatois L, González Riga BJ (2014) A new ichnospecies of Cubiculum from Upper Cretaceous dinosaur bones in Western Argentina. Ichnos 21(4):251–260 https://doi.org/10.1080/10420940.2014.958225

  • Pol D, Powell JE (2007) New information on Lessemsaurus sauropoides (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic of Argentina. In: Barrett PM, Batten DJ (eds) Evolution and paleobiology of early sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Special Papers in Palaeontology, vol 77, pp 223–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell JE (1986) Revisión de los titanosauridos de América del Sur. Ph.D. thesis. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina. Inédito

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell JE (1987) The Late Cretaceous Fauna from Los Alamitos, Patagonia, Argentina. The titanosaurids. Rev Del Mus Argent Cienc Nat 3:147–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell JE (1990) Epachthosaurus sciuttoi (gen. et sp. nov.) un dinosaurio saurópodo del Cretácico de Patagonia (provincia de Chubut, Argentina). Congreso Argentino de Paleontología y Bioestratigrafía, Actas 5:123–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Preuschoft H, Klein N (2013) Torsion and bending in the neck and tail of sauropod dinosaurs and the function of cervical ribs: insights from functional morphology and biomechanics. PLoS One 8(10):e78574

    Google Scholar 

  • Previteria E (2017) Bone microstructure and diagenesis of saurischian dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous (Neuquén Group) Argentina. Andean Geol 44(1):39–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Previtera E (2019) Taphonomic analysis of saurischian dinosaurs from the plottier formation (Upper cretaceous), Mendoza, Argentina. Andean Geol 46:345–367. https://doi.org/10.5027/andgeov46n2-3161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Previteria E, González Riga BJ (2008) Vertebrados cretácicos de la Formación Loncoche en Calmu-Co, Mendoza, Argentina. Ameghiniana 45:349–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Retallack GJ (1988) Field recognition of paleosoils. In: Reinhardt J, Sigleo WR (eds) Paleosols and weathering through geologic time: principles and applications. Geol Soc Am Spec, vol 216, pp 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez JFR (1993) La depositación de las areniscas verdes (Formación Bajo Barreal, Cretácico Tardío) y sus implicancias tafonómicas. In: Actas 2° Congreso Geológico Argentino y 12° Congreso de Exploración de Hidrocarburos, vol 1. Mendoza, Argentina, pp 194–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers RR (1990) Taphonomy of three dinosaur bone beds in the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of northwestern Montana; evidence for drought-related mortality. Palaios 5(5):394–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers RR, Swisher CC III, Sereno PC, Forster CA, Monetta AM (1993) The Ischigualasto tetrapod assemblage (Late Triassic) and 40Ar/39Ar calibration of dinosaur origins. Science 260:794–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers RR, Arcucci AB, Abdala F, Sereno PC, Forster CA, May CL (2001) Paleoenvironment and taphonomy of the chañares formation tetrapod assemblage (middle triassic), northwestern argentina: spectacular preservation in volcanogenic concretions. Palaios 16:461–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers RR, Eberth DA, Fiorillo AR (2007) Bonebeds: genesis, analysis, and paleobiological significance. University of Chicago Press

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rubilar-Rogers D, Vargas AO, González Riga BJ, Soto-Acuña S, Alarcón-Muñoz J, Iriarte-Díaz J, Arévalo C, Gutstein CS (2021) Arackar licanantay gen. et sp. nov. a new lithostrotian (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Atacama Region, northern Chile. Cretac Res 124:104802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104802

  • Ryan MJ, Russell AP, Eberth DA, Currie PJ (2001) The taphonomy of a Centrosaurus (Ornithischia: Certopsidae) bone bed from the Dinosaur Park Formation (Upper Campanian), Alberta, Canada, with comments on cranial ontogeny. Palaios 16(5):482–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L (1996) Pellegrinisaurus powelli nov. gen. et sp. (Sauropoda, Titanosauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Lago Pellegrini, North-western Patagonia Argentina. Ameghiniana 33:355–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L, Bonaparte JF (1991) Un nuevo saurópodo Dicraeosauridae, Amargasaurus cazaui gen. et sp. nov. de la Formación La Amarga, Neocomiano de la Provincia del Neuquén Argentina. Ameghiniana 28:333–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L, Azpilicueta C (2000) Un nuevo saltasaurino (Sauropoda, Titanosauridae) de la provincia de Río Negro (Formación Allen, Cretácico Superior), Patagonia, Argentina. Ameghiniana 37:259–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L, Carvalho IS (2008) Uberabatitan ribeiroi, a new titanosaur from the Marília Formation (Bauru Group, Upper Cretaceous), Minas Gerais, Brazil. Palaeontology 51:881–901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L, Coria RA (2009) Barrosasaurus casamiquelai gen. et sp. nov., a new titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Anacleto Formation (Late Cretaceous: early Campanian) of Sierra Barrosa (Neuquén, Argentina). Zootaxa 2222:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L, Garrido A, Cocca S, Cocca JR (2004) Lower Cretaceous rebbachisaurid sauropods from Cerro Aguada del León (Lohan Cura Formation), Neuquén Province, northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. J Vertebr Paleontol 24:903–912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L, Coria RA, Chiappe LM (2005) Osteology of the sauropod embryos from the Upper Cretacoeus of Patagonia. Acta Palaeontol Pol 50:79–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Salgado L, de Souza CI, Garrido AC (2006) Zapalasaurus bonapartei, un nuevo dinosaurio saurópodo de la Formación La Amarga (Cretácico Inferior), noroeste de Patagonia, Provincia de Neuquén, Argentina. Géobios 39:695–707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sander PM, Klein N, Stein K, Wings O (2011) Sauropod bone histology and its implications for sauropod biology. In: Klein N, Remes K, Gee CT, Sander PM (eds) Biology of the sauropod dinosaurs: understanding the life of giants, pp 276–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Sander PM (2013) An evolutionary cascade model for sauropod dinosaur gigantism—Overview, update and tests. PLoS One 8(10):e78573. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078573

  • Santucci RM, Bertini RJ (2006) A new titatanosaur from western São Paulo state, Upper Cretaceous Bauru Group, southeast Brazil. Palaeontology 49:59–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santucci RM, de Arruda-Campos AC (2011) A new sauropod (Macronaria, Titanosauria) from the Adamantina Formation, Bauru Group, Upper Cretaceous of Brazil and the phylogenetic relationships of Aeolosaurini. Zootaxa 3085:1–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz D, Frey E, Meyer CA (2007) Novel reconstruction of the orientation of the pectoral girdle in sauropods. Anat Rec 290:32–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sereno PC, Forster CA, Rogers RR, Monetta AM (1993) Primitive dinosaur skeleton from Argentina and the early evolution of the Dinosauria. Nature 361:64–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simón E, Salgado L, Calvo JO (2017) New titanosaur sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia, Neuquén Province Argentina. Ameghiniana 55(1):1–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith RMH, Marsicano CA, Pol D, Mancuso AC (2014) Ichnology of sauropodomorph nests from Patagonia indicates Early Jurassic origin of herd-living and herding site fidelity. In: Actas 4th international paleontological congress. Mendoza, Argentina, p 227

    Google Scholar 

  • Tappen M (1994) Bone weathering in the tropical rain forest. J Archaeol Sci 21:667–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor MP, Wedel MJ (2013) Why sauropods had long necks; and why giraffes have short necks. PeerJ 1:e36. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.36

  • Therrien F (2005) Palaeoenvironments of the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) dinosaurs of Romania: insights from fluvial deposits and paleosols of the Transylvanian and Hateg basins. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 218:15–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todisco D, Monchot H (2008) Bone weathering in a periglacial environment: the Tayara site (KbFk-7), Qikirtaq Island, Nunavik (Canada). Arctic 61:87–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomaselli MB, Ortiz David LD, González Riga BJ (2021) Remarks on paleoenvironmental Cretaceous contexts of South American sauropod tracks. J S Am Earth Sci 110:103393

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullmann PV, Lacovara KJ (2016) Appendicular osteology of Dreadnoughtus schrani, a giant titanosaurian (Sauropoda, Titanosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. J Vertebr Paleontol 36(6):e1225303

    Google Scholar 

  • Upchurch P (1998) The phylogenetic relationships of sauropod dinosaurs. Zool J Linn Soc 124:43–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Upchurch P, Barrett P, Dodson P (2004) Sauropoda. In: Weishampel DB, Dodson P, Osmólska H (eds) The Dinosauria, 2nd edn. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 259–324

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vila B, Galobart A, Oms O, Poza B, Bravo AM (2010) Assessing the nesting strategies of Late Cretaceous titanosaurs: 3-D clutch geometry from a new megaloolithid eggsite. Lethaia 43(2):197–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voorhies MR (1969) Taphonomy and population dynamics of the early Pliocene vertebrate fauna, Knox County, Nebraska. Geol Soc Am Spec Pap 1:1–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedel MJ, Sanders RK (2002) Osteological correlates of cervical musculature in Aves and Sauropoda (Dinosauria: Saurischia), with comments on the cervical ribs of Apatosaurus. PaleoBios 22:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • White PA, Diedrich CG (2012) Taphonomy story of a modern African elephant Loxodonta africana carcass on a lakeshore in Zambia (Africa). Quatern Int 276:287–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willis BJ, Behrensmeyer AK (1995) Fluvial systems in the Siwalik Miocene and Wyoming Eocene. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 115(1–4):13–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JA (2002) Sauropod dinosaur phylogeny: critique and cladistic analysis. Zool J Linn Soc 136:217–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JA (2005) Redescription of the Mongolian sauropod Nemegtosaurus mongoliensis Nowinski (Dinosauria: Saurischia) and comments on Late Cretaceous Sauropod diversity. J Syst Palaeontol 3:283–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JA, Sereno PC (1998) Early evolution and higher-level phylogeny of sauropod dinosaurs. J Vertebr Paleontol 18(2):1–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JA, Pol D, Carvalho AB, Zaher H (2016) The skull of the titanosaur Tapuiasaurus macedoi (Dinosauria: Sauropoda), a basal titanosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. Zool J Linn Soc 178(3):611–662. https://doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaher H, Pol D, Carvalho AB, Nascimento PM, Riccomini C, Larson P, Juárez-Valieri R, Pires-Domingues R, da Silva Jr, de Almeida Campos NJD (2011) A complete skull of an Early Cretaceous Sauropod and the evolution of advanced Titanosaurians. PLoS One 6(2):e16663

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the editors A. Otero, J. L. Carballido and D. Pol, for inviting us to participate in this book. The following institutions and projects supported our researches: authorities and colleagues of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (Mendoza, Argentina), and Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), and projects of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina PIP0695 (to B.J. González Riga), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Mendoza, Argentina) SIIP-UNCUYO 725 2019-06/M112 (to B.J. González Riga), SIIP-UNCUYO 2019-M085 (to L.D. Ortiz David, and SIIP-UNCUYO 2019-M069 (to J.P. Coria), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco Ciunpat PI 1089; PI 1249, and PI 1409 (to G. Casal), and ANCYT PICT 201-0459 (to L. Ibiricu and G. Casal). J. L. Carballido. J. O. Calvo, P. Gallina and M. Luna gently provided photographs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio y Museo de Dinosaurios, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Parque Gral. San Martín, Padre Contreras 1300, 5500, Mendoza Province, Argentina

    Bernardo J. González Riga & Leonardo D. Ortiz David

  2. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Básicas, CONICET-UNCUYO, Mendoza, Argentina

    Bernardo J. González Riga & Leonardo D. Ortiz David

  3. Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, km 4 (9000) Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut Province, Argentina

    Gabriel A. Casal

  4. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA

    Anthony R. Fiorillo

Authors
  1. Bernardo J. González Riga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gabriel A. Casal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anthony R. Fiorillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Leonardo D. Ortiz David
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernardo J. González Riga .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, La Plata, Argentina

    Alejandro Otero

  2. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Trelew, Argentina

    José L. Carballido

  3. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Trelew, Argentina

    Diego Pol

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

González Riga, B.J., Casal, G.A., Fiorillo, A.R., Ortiz David, L.D. (2022). Taphonomy: Overview and New Perspectives Related to the Paleobiology of Giants. In: Otero, A., Carballido, J.L., Pol, D. (eds) South American Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95959-3_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation