Microcoelus

My-krow-see-lus.
Published on

Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Microcoelus ‭(‬Small hollow‭)‬.

Phonetic

My-krow-see-lus.

Named By

Lydekker‭ ‬-‭ ‬1893.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Sauropoda,‭ ‬Titanosauria.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

M.‭ ‬patagonicus‭

Size

Unknown.

Known locations

Argentina.

Time Period

Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Single dorsal vertebra.

In Depth

       Since the naming of the genus in‭ ‬1893,‭ ‬Microcoelus has become something of a dubious genus of titanosaur.‭ ‬This is because at the time if writing only a single dorsal‭ (‬back‭) ‬vertebra is known.‭ ‬A humerus‭ (‬upper arm bone‭) ‬that was once assigned to‭ ‬the genus has now been moved to‭ ‬the genus Neuquensaurus,‭ ‬and there is also talk that Microcoelus should be re-classed as a synonym to Neuquensaurus.‭ ‬Indeed,‭ ‬many researchers have already chosen to come to this conclusion.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Dinosaurs‭ (‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Archosauria‭) ‬at Museo de La Plata,‭ ‬Argentina:‭ ‬annotated catalogue of the type material and Antarctic specimens.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Palaeontologia Electronica,‭ ‬16‭(‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬1-24.‭ ‬-‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Otero‭ & ‬M.‭ ‬Reguero‭ ‬-‭ ‬2013.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT