In Depth
Although around eight to ten meters long in life, Lirainosaurus was still pretty small for a titanosaur. However, while the fossils of several individuals have been found, and from most parts of the skeleton, these remains are usually very fragmentary. The fossils that are known indicate that Lirainosaurus was a fairly gracile (lightly built) titanosaur, and was possibly related to other genera such as Saltasaurus. This interpretation is supported by the discovery of osteoderm armour associated with Lirainosaurus remains. In life these osteoderms would have been plates of bone that lay just below the outer surface of skin to provide some defence from attack.
Further Reading
- Sauropod remains from the Upper Cretaceous of La�o (north central Spain). Titanosaur phylogenetic relationships - J. L. Sanz, J. E. Powell, J. Le Loeuff, R. Martinez & X. Pereda-Suberbiola - 1999.
