A new specimen of<i>Neuquensaurus australis</i>, a Late Cretaceous saltasaurine titanosaur from north Patagonia

Abstract

ABSTRACT A new specimen of the sauropod titanosaur Neuquensaurus australis, collected in the locality of Cinco Saltos (Patagonia, Argentina), provides an opportunity to improve our knowledge of the anatomy of this dinosaur. The elements represented in this specimen include a complete cervical vertebra, most of the dorsal vertebrae, fifteen caudal vertebrae, the complete sacrum articulated to both ilia, one ischium, two femora, one tibia articulated to the fibula and astragalus, and two osteoderms. Surprisingly, the sacrum is composed of seven vertebrae, the last of which, unfused to the other six, is apparently biconvex. A third femur and one tibia were found associated with this specimen; these are morphologically similar but stouter than those belonging to the former specimen.