Ampelosaurus: Research Database
Titanosauria (Sauropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~70–66 MYA) · Europe — France (Marnes Rouges Formation, Provence)
Research Note: Ampelosaurus was a titanosaur from the Late Cretaceous Marnes Rouges Formation of Provence, France. As one of the few named dinosaurs from France, it provides important data on titanosaur diversity and biogeography in the Latest Cretaceous of Europe.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Garcia 2012: Ampelosaurus and titanosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of France
Garcia 2012 provides comprehensive data on Ampelosaurus from the Late Cretaceous Marnes Rouges Formation of France, establishing it as a titanosaur and documenting its significance for understanding titanosaur diversity and biogeography in the Latest Cretaceous of Europe
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Confirmed | A | 2012 | Fossil | Garcia, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
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Sander & Peitz 2008: Titanosaur diversity and systematics in the Cretaceous of Europe
Sander & Peitz 2008 provide additional data on titanosaur diversity and systematics from the Cretaceous of Europe, contextualising Ampelosaurus within the broader evolutionary history of titanosaurian sauropods
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Confirmed | B | 2008 | Fossil | Sander & Peitz, Palaeontographica Abteilung A | Diversity |
Active Debate: Titanosaur Biogeography in the Latest Cretaceous of Europe
Whether European titanosaurs were isolated or part of a wider Eurasian fauna is debated.
What We Still Do Not Know About Ampelosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Body mass: Estimated at ~5–15 tonnes.
- Skin and integument: Unknown.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Along with Magyarosaurus, Ampelosaurus is currently one of the best known sauropods from Europe and is in fact another example of a Late Cretaceous era titanosaur. Remains of Ampelosaurus have been found in what would have been a floodplain in the late Cretaceous. However when the fossils were discovered they were now near a vineyard (a place where grapes are grown for the purpose of making wine) which inspired the name Ampelosaurus which means ‘vine lizard’.
Despite the fact that the skull of Ampelosaurus is still only known from partial remains, there is still enough of this dinosaur, particularly the post cranial skeleton, to reconstruct Ampelosaurus with confidence. The neck of Ampelosaurus is quite short in proportion to the body, something which could indicate a specialisation in low to medium height vegetation. Like with many other titanosaurs, Ampelosaurus also had bony armour called osteoderms (alternatively scutes) which were bony plates that grew within the skin.
Another titanosaur sauropod that lived in France at the end of the Cretaceous period is Hypselosaurus.
Further Reading
– Ampelosaurus atacis (nov. gen., nov. sp.), un nouveau Titanosauridae (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) du Cr�tac� sup�rieur de la Haute Vall�e de l’Aude (France)” (PDF). Comptes Rendus de l’Acad�mie des Sciences. IIa. 321: 693–699. – J. Le Loeuff – 1995. – Ampelosaurus atacis, the dinosaur of the wineyard. – The Dinosaur Society UK Quarterly. 1 (4): 1–2. – L. Le Loeuff & E. Buffetaut – 1996. – Osteology of Ampelosaurus atacis (Titanosauria) from Southern France. – J. Le Loeuff – 2005. – Modified Laminar Bone in Ampelosaurus atacis and Other Titanosaurs (Sauropoda): Implications for Life History and Physiology. – PLoS ONE. 7 (5): e36907. – N. Klein, P. M. Sander, K. Stein, J. Le Loeuff, J. L. Carballido & E. Buffetaut (Andrew A. Farke (ed.)) – 2010. – Neurocranial Osteology and Neuroanatomy of a Late Cretaceous Titanosaurian Sauropod from Spain (Ampelosaurus sp.). – F. Knoll, R. C. Ridgely, F. Ortega, J. Sanz & L. M. Witmer – 2013.
