Rayososaurus

Ya-o-so-soer-us.
Published on

Harper Gray

Paleoartist

Harper Grey combines artistic talent with scientific precision to bring extinct creatures and environments back to life. Collaborating closely with paleontologists

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Rayososaurus ‭(‬Rayoso lizard‭ ‬-‭ ‬after the Rayoso Formation).

Phonetic

Ya-o-so-soer-us.

Named By

Jose Fernando Bonaparte‭ ‬-‭ ‬1996.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Sauropodomorpha,‭ ‬Sauropoda,‭ ‬Diplodocoidea,‭ ‬Rebbachisauridae.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

R.‭ ‬agrionensis‭

Size

Uncertain,‭ ‬but very roughly estimated to be about‭ ‬6‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

Argentina,‭ ‬Patagonia‭ ‬-‭ ‬Rayoso Formation.

Time Period

Cenomanian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Partial post cranial remains including Scapula,‭ ‬femur and partial fibula.

In Depth

       A very small sauropod,‭ ‬Rayososaurus is considered to be very similar to another genus called Rebbachisaurus.‭ ‬Because Rayososaurus is from South America and Rebbachisaurus is from Africa,‭ ‬this has given rise to the notion that these two continents were joined for much longer than previously thought back in the Cretaceous.

Further Reading

– Cretaceous tetrapods of Argentina. – M�nchner Geowissenschaften Abhandlungen 30:73-130. – J. F. Bonaparte – 1996.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT