In Depth
Remains of Brazilian dinosaurs are often noted as being incomplete (for example, the increasingly famous spinosaurid Oxalaia was named from only the tip of the snout), and Adamantisaurus was no exception to this since it was named from only six caudal vertebrae. These six vertebrae were originally written about in 1959 by Sergio Mezzalira, but were not formally named as a genus until 2006. The genus name is in reference to the Admantina Formation where the holotype remains were discovered, while the type species name is in honour of Sergio Mezzalira.
Because it is only named from caudal vertebrae it is impossible to establish a size for Adamantisaurus as well as identify other features such as the presence of bony armour called scutes in the skin which are seen in at least some titanosaurs. Despite this, Adamantisaurus has been considered to possibly be similar to genera such as Aeolosaurus and Trigonosaurus. Other sauropods from the Admantina Formation that Adamantisaurus may have lived alongside include Antarctosaurus, Gondwanatitan and Maxakalisaurus.
On a side note, care should be taken not to confuse the sauropod genus Adamantisaurus with the crocodylomorph Adamantinasuchus, which is also known from the same formation.
Further Reading
- A new titanosaur from western S�o Paulo State, Upper Cretaceous Bauru Group, south-east Brazil - Rodrigo Santucci and Reinaldo Bertini - 2006.
