Gallardosaurus
Gallardosaurus | |
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Skeletal diagram showing known material | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | †
Plesiosauria |
Family: | |
Genus: | †Gallardosaurus Gasparini, 2009
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Type species | |
†Gallardosaurus iturraldei Gasparini, 2009
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Gallardosaurus is a
History and etymology
Oxfordian-age reptiles have been found in Cuba since the first half of the 20th century, but most have not received wide recognition because publications were not widely disseminated. In 1996, Dr.
The generic name is derived from the specimen MNHNCu P3005's discoverer, Juan Gallardo, who together with Juanito Gallardo is credited with discovering most of the Oxfordian reptiles in Cuba. The species name G. itturraldei is derived from the name of the geotectonist and paleontologist Dr. Manuel Iturralde Vinent.[2]
MNHNCu P3005 was found in a concretion in dark shale, within the Jagua Vieja Member of the Jagua Formation. It is preserved three-dimensionally with slight deformation. The tip of the snout and the posterior ends of the lower jaw are absent. The skull was broad and not tall, with long pointed teeth. The lack of fusion in some of the vertebrae suggests the individual was not fully grown when it died.[2]
Classification
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Gallardosaurus was a pliosaurid, a member of the family
Paleobiology and paleoecology
G. iturraldei would probably have seasonally migrated across the Caribbean Seaway, and would have preyed mostly on
See also
References
- ^ Gallardosaurus at Fossilworks.org
- ^ doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2009.00871.x. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-07-16.