Rebbachisauridae

Original description: The diagram is based on strict consensus of five minimum-length trees using 13 ingroup taxa and 102 unordered characters (CI = 0.76; RI = 0.78) (Text S5). Scaled icons represent a diplodocid (Apatosaurus) [11], dicraeosaurid (Dicraeosaurus) [51], and a rebbachisaurid (Nigersaurus). Geographic distributions include Laurasian diplodocoids (western North America—Apatasaurus, Diplodocus, Suuwassea; Europe—Histriasaurus, Spanish rebbachisaurid) and Gondwanan diplodocoids (South America—Cathartesaura, Limaysaurus, Zapalasaurus; Africa—Rebbachisaurus, Nigersaurus). Temporal boundaries based on a recent timescale [52]. Color scheme: Laurasia (orange); Gondwana (blue); North America (solid orange); Europe (striped orange); South America (blue); Africa (striped blue).

Astigmasaura is a medium-sized rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of what is now Argentina. Rebbachisaurids had highly pneumatized bones that helped them to hold their weight on their four pillar-like legs, and extremely long tails. Astigmasaura was likely a ground-level browsing herbivore.

Rebbachisaurids are the latest known sauropod dinosaurs outside the titanosaur lineage. Cienciargentina is a rebbachisaurid from the Late Cretaceous, making it among the most recent. It had many hollow bones, and likely had batteries of teeth used for chewing, a rebbachisaurid feature unique among sauropods.

Campananeyen is a rebbachisaurid sauropod that lived approximately 100 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous of what is now Argentina. Rebbachisaurids are the main group of diplodocoidea to have lived past the Jurassic, and had a more horizontal posture than contemporary sauropods, mainly the titanosaurs. They are unique among sauropods for having batteries of teeth used for chewing, rather than the typical peglike teeth sauropods used to strip leaves off branches.

Skeletal reconstruction of Maraapunisaurus fragillimus, with restored dorsal vertebra in posterior view. Scaled from Lavocatisaurus, Agustinia, Comahuesaurus, Amazonsaurus, & other basal rebbachisaurids, with neck extended allometrically following Stevens & Parrish (2006). Human silhouette is myself.

Sidersaura is a rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. Rebbachisaurids are the last known dipldocoids, and lived alongside the titanosaurs until fairly late in the Cretaceous before disappearing from the fossil record, presumably going extinct. They have long tails and relatively short necks, by sauropod standards. Sidersaura one of the most recent rebbachisaurids yet found, living in the Cenomanian–Turonian ages of the Late Cretaceous. It was large for a rebbachisaurid, growing to about 20 m in length.

Left dentary of rebbachisaurid sauropod Demandasaurus darwini gen. et sp. nov. from Late Barremian–Early Aptian, Early Cretaceous of Tenadas de los Vallejos II, Spain, MDS−RVII,443, in lateral (A) and dorsal (B) views. The arrow indicates a depressed area in a dorsolateral position.

Cervical vertebrae of rebbachisaurid sauropod Katepensaurus goicoecheai Ibiricu, Casal, Martínez, Lamanna, Luna, and Salgado, 2013a from the Cenomanian–Turonian Bajo Barreal Formation of Chubut Province, Argentina. A. UNPSJB-PV 1007/1, anterior cervical vertebra in anterior (A1) and right ventrolateral (A2) views. B. UNPSJB-PV 1007/2, anterior cervical vertebra in right lateral view. C. UNPSJB-PV 1007/3, middle cervical vertebra in right lateral view. Lateral fossae of the centrum (hypothesized as pneumatic in origin) indicated by arrows.

Vertebra of the rebbachisaurid sauropod Histriasaurus from Croatia

Limaysaurus tessonei skeleton restoration, Copenhagen.

Limaysaurus tessonei skeleton restoration, Copenhagen.

Limaysaurus tessonei skeleton restoration, Copenhagen.

Limaysaurus tessonei skeleton restoration, Copenhagen.

Limaysaurus tessonei skeleton restoration, Copenhagen.

Limaysaurus tessonei skeleton restoration, Copenhagen.