Diamantinasaurus

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Diamantinasaurus
Temporal range:
Ma
↓
Skeletal restoration of the holotype
Holotype skeleton in (a) right and (b) left views
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: †Sauropodomorpha
Clade: †Sauropoda
Clade: †Macronaria
Clade: †Somphospondyli
Clade: †Diamantinasauria
Genus: †Diamantinasaurus
Hocknull et al., 2009
Species:
†D. matildae
Binomial name
†Diamantinasaurus matildae
Hocknull et al., 2009

Diamantinasaurus is a genus of

vertebrae
of the paratype.

History of discovery

Map showing Winton Formation outcrops and locations where Diamantinasaurus specimens have been found

The

radius, and one manual phalanx. All these bones come from AODL 85, nicknamed the "Matilda Site" at Elderslie Sheep Station, located about 60 km (37 mi) west-northwest from Winton in central Queensland. This locality is in the upper midsection of the Winton Formation, which dates to the Cenomanian of the Late Cretaceous.[1][3]

The discovery of Diamantinasaurus ended a pause in the discovery of new dinosaurs in Australia, as the first sauropod named in over 75 years. Along with Australovenator, the holotype of Diamantinasaurus has been nicknamed after the Australian song "Waltzing Matilda", with Australovenator being called "Banjo" and Diamantinasaurus being nicknamed "Matilda". Wintonotitan, also from the site, was dubbed "Clancy".[4][5] The find was apparently the largest dinosaur discovery in Australia that was documented since that of Muttaburrasaurus in 1981.[5]

As of 2023, three additional specimens have been described since its initial description: each specimen has been nicknamed as "Alex" for AODF 836, "Oliver" for AODF 663 and "Ann" for AODF 0906.[6] The second specimen, AODF 836, was described in 2016. It includes portions of the skull, including a left squamosal, nearly complete braincase, right surangular, and various fragments. Additionally, the specimen also includes the atlas, axis, five other cervical vertebrae, three dorsal vertebrae, additional dorsal ribs, portions of the hip, and another right scapula.[7] In 2021, the referred material was thoroughly described.[8] In 2022, the third specimen, AODF 663, was referred to as a juvenile specimen.[9] In 2023, the fourth specimen, AODF 0906, consisting of a partial postcranial skeleton and a more complete skull with previously unknown numerous cranial elements intact has been described in detail.[6]

Description

3D scans and reconstruction of skull AODF 0906
Life restoration

Diamantinasaurus was a medium-sized titanosaurian, measuring 16 m (52 ft) long and weighing up to 25 t (28 short tons).

quadrupedal herbivore.[12] Since the original description, the only major revisions include the misidentification of the "sternal plate", misplacement of manual phalanges III-1 and IV-1 as III-1 and V-1 respectively, and the identification of the missing portion of the fibula.[1]

The skull of Diamantinasaurus is incompletely known, with only the posterior skull roof and braincase being preserved. Similarly to

pituitary fossa, and a more centrally located opening for the internal carotid artery.[7]

As is typical for

sacral vertebrae.[1]

Forelimb

Left (top) and right (bottom) humeri in multiple views

Almost all the right forelimb is known from Diamantinasaurus, although the left humerus is known in addition to the right, and the left first metacarpal is known while the right is unpreserved. Diagnostic of Diamantinasaurus, the

glenoid (humerus) articulation of the scapula is rotated to the outside, differing from all other somphospondylans. Similar to Alamosaurus and taxa around the base of Titanosauria, at least a single ventral process is known, although it is poorly preserved. The scapula of Diamantinasaurus is robust, having a more round cross-section than other somphospondylans. The coracoid, misidentified as a sternal in the original description, is plain and unfeatured, contrasting Huabeisaurus, Lirainosaurus and Opisthocoelicaudia. The proximal surface of the 1.068 m (3.50 ft) humerus is prominently curved as in the derived titanosaurs Opisthocoelicaudia and Saltasaurus. The lateral corner is also squared, placing it within Somphospondyli. Like with most somphospondylans but unlike Euhelopus and Rapetosaurus, Diamantinasaurus has a middle-shifted deltopectoral crest. Ridges for muscle attachment are less developed than in Opisthocoelicaudia and Magyarosaurus. Differing from derived titanosaurs, the condyles to articulate with the forearm are not pronounced. Diamantinasaurus has an ulna comparing to derived titanosaurs in the level of robustness, as well as having a very pronounced olecranon. Similarly, the radius of Diamantinasaurus is more robust than all titanosaurs except Opisthocoelicaudia. The ulna is 70 cm (28 in) long, while the radius is 67.5 cm (26.6 in).[1]

Articulated manus of Diamantinasaurus displaying all preserved phalanges

Because of the completeness of the forelimb material, the absence of

metacarpal being the longest (41.2 cm (16.2 in) Mc III compared to next longest 37.5 cm (14.8 in) Mc II); the presence of a thumb claw; and the presence of multiple phalanges, having the phalangeal formula 2–1–1–1–1. However, the manus of Diamantinasaurus is completely cylindrical and vertical like other titanosaurs. The presence of large numbers of phalanges in Diamantinasaurus was used by Poropat et al. (2014) to suggest that all titanosaurs actually had ossified phalanges contrasting earlier studies. Following this logic, they suggested that for Opisthocoelicaudia and Epachthosaurus, which both preserve a single phalanx from the fourth finger, the absence of others was due to them being lost before fossilization for the preceding digits, instead of absence. The complete absence of preserved phalanges in Alamosaurus, Rapetosaurus, Neuquensaurus and Saltasaurus potentially being due to disarticulation instead of absence of ossification.[1]

Hindlimb

Pelvic bones as articulated and individually in multiple views

The left

pubes, left and right ischia, and entire right leg lacking the foot are preserved for Diamantinasaurus, although some bones are highly fragmented and poorly preserved. The ilium has the outside well preserved, but its size and fragility mean the internal side cannot be seen for anatomical features. The top edge of the ilium is broken, revealing numerous small internal camerae, as present in the titanosaurs Alamosaurus, Epachthosaurus, Lirainosaurus, Saltasaurus and Sonidosaurus. Shared with other derived titanosaurs, the anterior process of the ilium flares to the side and rotates so the vertical ilium body becomes a horizontal shelf. Diamantinasaurus also displays the derived sauropod traits of a rounded ilium, reduced articular surface for the ischium, and a protuberance above the ischiatic articulation (only shared with Opisthocoelicaudia among Titanosauriformes). The pubis, as in advanced sauropods, is a flattened bone, lacking the anterior hook of diplodocoids, but with potentially autapomorphic grooves surrounding the obturator foramen. Articulation with the ischium takes up 46% of the pubic length, as in most macronarians but contrasting with Alamosaurus and Opisthocoelicaudia, where it is reduced. The entire ischium is only 68% of the length of the pubis as in other titanosaurs, and also expands medially so the entire floor of the pelvis is closed. Unlike some titanosaurs, the ischium of Diamantinasaurus displays no constriction of its width, nor a flange projecting internally. Diamantinasaurus also lacks a notable muscle scar for the M. flexor tibialis internus 3 on the side of the distal ischium, which is diagnostic for the taxon amongst Neosauropoda.[1]

Femur displaying bevelled morphology (above) and tibia (below) of Diamantinasaurus

The femur, 1.345 m (4.41 ft) long, is roughly twice as wide as it is long, as in other derived sauropods, although it has been slightly crushed. The crushing did not prevent the preservation of the linea intermuscularis cranialis ridge, also present in Saltasaurus, Neuquensaurus, Bonatitan, Rocasaurus and Alamosaurus. As is typical for a sauropod, the head of the femur is slightly above the greater trochanter, and there is a mild trochanteric shelf. A moderate lateral bulge is present, above which the femur is shifted medially, like most macronarians except Opisthocoelicaudia, Saltasaurus and Rapetosaurus. The condyles for articulation with the tibia and fibula extend high onto the posterior surface of the femur, but unlike Neuquensaurus and Opisthocoelicaudia do not extend onto the anterior surface. A depression subdivides the fibular condyle, which bears a slight ridge also found in Magyarosaurus and other titanosaurs, although the prominence of it is unique to Diamantinasaurus. The fibular condyle is larger than the tibial, and extends farther down, giving the femur a bevelled appearance, potentially diagnostic of Saltasauridae but also found in Rapetosaurus and the non-titanosaur Dongbeititan.[1]

The tibia is 59% of the length of the femur, and as is normal for neosauropods is wider than it is long on the proximal surface. Diamantinasaurus bears multiple fossae and ridges on the tibia that have not been observed in other sauropods, making them a suite of diagnostic traits. As in many titanosaurs, the distal end of the tibia is flared to over double the midshaft width, although a thin flange along the midshaft may be diagnostic to Diamantinasaurus. Originally reconstructed missing part of the shaft, the fibula is 76.9 cm (30.3 in) long, and is intermediately robust, although close to gracile. The bone is poorly preserved, but still displays a diagnostic widening of the fibular muscle scar, and a diagnostic medial ridge with surrounding grooves. As in many titanosauriforms, the astragalus of Diamantinasaurus is less than 1.5 times as wide as long, and the proximal surface is divided into the ascending process and the fossa for the tibia. There is also a shallow fossa for the fibula on the outside face of the astragalus, giving the bone a subtriangular shape. No depressions or foramina are present at the anterior base of the ascending process, a condition typical of Eusauropoda. A process on the posterior side of the astragalar body is unique among all sauropods, making it an autapomorphy of Diamantinasaurus.[1]

Classification

When it was originally described, Diamantinasaurus was assigned to Lithostrotia incertae sedis. In both phylogenies it was placed in, Diamantinasaurus was either just outside Saltasauridae or the sister taxon of Opisthocoelicaudia within the family.[3] In a 2014 study, it was found that the genus was placed as a lithostrotian in both large phylogenies, in a relatively derived position in Titanosauria. Their first phylogeny was modified from that of Carbadillo and Sander (2014), the matrix being indirectly based on Wilson's 2002 phylogeny. In that cladogram, Diamantinasaurus was found to be sister taxon to Tapuiasaurus, their relationship outside of Saltasauridae. In this phylogeny, the Bremer support for each group was at most 1. Five features of the skeleton supported the placement of Diamantinasaurus in Lithostrotia.[1]

Holotype ulna in multiple views
Referred neck vertebrae and skull of AODF 836
Somphospondyli

In the same study, the relationships using the Mannion et al. (2013) matrix were tested. These resolved with Diamantinasaurus as a saltasaurid, sister to Opisthocoelicaudia, with Dongyangosaurus as the next closest. Two characters were found to support the placement of Diamantinasaurus in Lithostrotia, and a third could not be evaluated.[1]

Another phylogenetic analysis in 2016, partially reproduced below, found it as a non-lithostrotian titanosaur and the sister taxon of the contemporary Savannasaurus.[7][13]

Reconstructed forelimb
Titanosauria

The 2021 study recovered a similar topology, finding a close relationship with Savannasaurus as well as Sarmientosaurus from the early Late Cretaceous of Patagonia, which skull had similarities to the referred cranial material of Diamantinasaurus. The clade containing these taxa was dubbed Diamantinasauria.[8] Beeston et al. (2024) considered Australotitan as a junior synonym of Diamantinasaurus or an indeterminate species of diamantinasaurian titanosaur, since the holotype of Australotitan possesses no distinguishable autapomorphic features to classify it as a valid genus and shares many similarities with known specimens of Diamantinasaurus.[14]

Paleobiology

Growth

In 2011, the smallest positively identified titanosaur embryo was described. Although it was uncovered in Mongolia, the embryo shares the most features with Diamantinasaurus and Rapetosaurus. The embryo, from a relatively spherical 87.07–91.1 millimetres (3.428–3.587 in) egg, was identified as persisting to a lithostrotian. The embryo was slightly robust, intermediate between the robustness of Rapetosaurus and Diamantinasaurus. The egg is part of an entire nesting site for lithostrotian titanosaurs. Dating of the region also suggests that this egg predates those of Auca Mahuevo in Argentina, and the eggs were laid in the Early Cretaceous.[15]

Paleoecology

Illustration of Australovenator feeding on the carcass of Diamantinasaurus

Diamantinasaurus was found about 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Winton, near Elderslie Station.

angiosperms.[3]

References

  1. ^
    hdl:10044/1/27497
    .
  2. ^
    doi:10.1016/j.gr.2012.12.009
    .
  3. ^
    PMID 19584929
    .
  4. ^ Musser, A. (2010-06-03). "Animal Species: Diamantinasaurus matildae". Australian Museum.
  5. ^ a b "New dinosaurs found in Australia". BBC News. 2009-07-03.
  6. ^
    PMID 37063988
    .
  7. ^
    PMID 27763598
    .
  8. ^
    ISSN 0024-4082
    .
  9. S2CID 248187418
    .
  10. ISBN 9780375824197. Genus List for Holtz 2012 Weight Information
  11. S2CID 52940848
    .
  12. ISBN 978-0-520-24209-8
    .
  13. ^ St. Fleur, Nicholas (20 October 2016). "Meet the New Titanosaur. You Can Call It Wade". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  14. PMID 38618562
    .
  15. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2011.02.007
    .

External links

Three new dinosaurs discovered in Australia at Wikinews

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