Volkheimeria

Volk-heim-er.
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John Stewart

Paleoecologist

John Stewart is a distinguished paleoecologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. With over two decades dedicated to unearthing fossils across Asia and Africa

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Name

Volkheimeria ‭(‬after Wolfgang Volkheimer‭).

Phonetic

Volk-heim-er.

Named By

Jose Bonaparte‭ ‬-‭ ‬1979.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Sauropodomorph,‭ ‬Sauropoda,‭ ‬Brachiosauridae.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

V.‭ ‬chubutensis‭

Size

Uncertain due to lack of remains.

Known locations

Argentina,‭ ‬Chubut Province‭ ‬-‭ ‬Canadon Asfalto Formation.

Time Period

Callovian of the Jurassic.

Fossil representation

‭P‬artial post cranial remains including vertebrae,‭ ‬pelvis and hindlimb.

In Depth

       The holotype remains of Volkheimeria were found in close proximity to the remains of five individuals of the sauropod Patagosaurus as well as two individuals of the theropod Piatnitzkysaurus.‭ ‬Volkheimeria has a substantially shorter ilium than‭ ‬Patagosaurus,‭ ‬so even though the remains of Volkheimeria are vastly incomplete,‭ ‬it seems to have been a much smaller sauropod than Patogosaurus.‭ ‬Volkheimeria was originally considered to be a relative of Cetiosaurus under the Cetiosauridae,‭ ‬though usually today Volkheimeria is just placed within the Brachiosauridae.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Dinosaurs:‭ ‬a Jurassic assemblage from Patagonia,‭ ‬Jose Bonaparte‭ ‬-‭ ‬1979.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT