Name:
Trigonosaurus.
Phonetic: Try-go-no-sore-us.
Named By: D. A. Campos, A. W. A.
Kellner, R. J. Bertini, & R. M. Santucci -
2005.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Saurischia, Sauropoda, Titanosauria, Titanosauridae.
Species: T. pricei (type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Unknown due to lack of remains.
Known locations: Brazil - Mar�lia Formation.
Time period: Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial post cranial remains
including left ilium, six sacral (hip) vertebrae, ten dorsal
(back) vertebrae and one caudal (tail) vertebrae (MCT
1488-R). A further ten vertebrae that may actually belong to the
same individual were later added (MCT 1719-R).
Although only known from very partial remains, Trigonosaurus may have been similar to other South American titanosaurs such as Aeolasaurus and Adamantisaurus. The lack of a more complete post cranial skeleton means that it is hard to establish an accurate size estimate for the genus, as well as to identify any specialisations towards a specific ecological niche. Before it was formally named, Trigonosaurus was known as the ‘Peir�polis titanosaur’ after the location it was discovered.
Further reading
- On a titanosaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) vertebral column
from the Bauru Group, Late Cretaceous of Brazil - D. A.
Campos, A. W. A. Kellner, R. J. Bertini, & R.
M. Santucci - 2005.