Xinjiangtitan
Xinjiangtitan Temporal range: Middle Jurassic,
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
Clade: | †Sauropoda |
Family: | †Mamenchisauridae |
Genus: | †Xinjiangtitan Wu et al., 2013 |
Type species | |
†Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis Wu et al., 2013
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Xinjiangtitan (
Discovery
The
Fossils
Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis is known from a single specimen, the holotype SSV12001, which consists of a nearly complete vertebral column preserved in articulation, as well as a partial skull, partial pelvis, and most of the left hind limb.[1] The neck, of which all 18 vertebrae are present, is nearly 15 meters long and is the longest complete neck ever discovered of any animal.[2] The vertebral column is overall among the most complete of any sauropod specimen from Asia.[1] The cervical[1] and dorsal vertebrae[3] have been described in detail. The specimen was originally reported as being from the Qigu Formation (Late Jurassic), but it was subsequently considered to be from the Qiketai Formation (Middle Jurassic).[4]
Description
Xinjiangtitan was one of the longest known sauropods, measuring 30–32 metres (98–105 ft) long and weighing up to 40 metric tons (44 short tons).[5][6] Xinjiangtitan was diagnosed based on the following traits: the presence of a ventral keel on the penultimate cervical centrum that forms a small semicircular process under the distal articular facet; both cervical vertebrae are relatively elongated; the sacricostal yoke except the first sacral rib; and an extremely robust femur. The series of dorsal vertebrae has a length of 3.72 m (12.2 ft). The thighbone is 1.65 m (5.4 ft) long, and the tibia is 0.98 m (3.2 ft) long.[5] Its long neck is measured at least 14.9 m (49 ft) in length.[1]
Phylogeny
Among sauropods, a
References
- ^ S2CID 91680936.
- ^ a b Wedel, Matt (2021-01-28). "Xinjiangtitan has the longest preserved neck of any lifeform to date". Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02.
- ^ S2CID 254532485.
- ^ S2CID 135213577.
- ^ .
- ^ Paul, Gregory S. (2016). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs 2nd Edition. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 207.