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High European sauropod dinosaur diversity during Jurassic–Cretaceous transition in Riodeva (Teruel, Spain)
Author(s) -
ROYOTORRES RAFAEL,
COBOS ALBERTO,
LUQUE LUIS,
ABERASTURI AINARA,
ESPÍLEZ EDUARDO,
FIERRO IGNACIO,
GONZÁLEZ ANA,
MAMPEL LUIS,
ALCALÁ LUIS
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
palaeontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1475-4983
pISSN - 0031-0239
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2009.00898.x
Subject(s) - cretaceous , paleontology , clade , geology , biology , phylogenetics , biochemistry , gene
Abstract: Up to now, more than 40 dinosaur sites have been found in the latest Jurassic – earliest Cretaceous sedimentary outcrops (Villar del Arzobispo Formation) of Riodeva (Iberian Range, Spain). Those already excavated, as well as other findings, provide a large and diverse number of sauropod remains, suggesting a great diversity for this group in the Iberian Peninsula during this time. Vertebrae and ischial remains from Riodevan site RD‐13 are assigned to Turiasaurus riodevensis (a species described in RD‐10, Barrihonda site), which is part of the Turiasauria clade. This is the first time that a taxon is attributed to Turiasaurus genus out of its type site. A Neosauropod caudal vertebra from the RD‐11 site has been classified as Diplodocinae indet., supporting the previous attribution on an ilion also found in Riodeva (CPT‐1074) referring to the Diplodocidae clade. New remains from the RD‐28, RD‐41 and RD‐43 sites, of the same age, among which there are caudal vertebrae, are assigned to Macronaria. New sauropod footprints from the Villar del Arzobispo Formation complete the extraordinary sauropod record coming to light in the area. The inclusion of other sauropods from different contemporaneous exposures in Teruel within the Turiasauria clade adds new evidence of a great diversity of sauropods in Iberia during the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition. Turiasauria distribution contributes to the understanding of European and global palaeobiogeography.