Bravasaurus
Herbivore·Late Cretaceous·La Rioja, Argentina·Quadrupedal
Bravasaurus was a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Late Cretaceous period. Its name, meaning "Laguna Brava lizard," references a national park in Argentina, and its species name honors the "arriero" or cattle drivers of the Andes. Bravasaurus was an herbivore, estimated to be around 7 meters long and weighing close to 2.9 metric tons.
Key Facts
- ›Bravasaurus was a titanosaurian sauropod from Argentina.
- ›It lived during the Late Cretaceous period.
- ›Estimated length was approximately 7 meters (23 ft).
- ›Estimated weight was nearly 2.9 metric tons (3.2 short tons).
- ›It is classified within the Aeolosaurini clade.
- ›Fossils were found in the CIénaga del Río Huaco Formation.
- Estimated Length: 7 Meters
- Estimated Weight: 2.9 Metric Tons
- Possessed Quadrate and Quadratojugal Bones.
- Had Cervical, Dorsal, and Caudal Vertebrae.
- Included Ribs and Haemal Arches.
- Fossil Remains Include Humerus, Ulna, Metacarpal, Ilium, Pubis, Ischium, Femur, and Fibulae.
Punatitan
Argentina
About Bravasaurus
Bravasaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period. Its fossils have been discovered in the Ciénaga del Río Huaco Formation of La Rioja, Argentina. The genus name, Bravasaurus, translates to "Laguna Brava lizard," a nod to the Laguna Brava National Park in Argentina. The species name, arreirosorum, pays homage to the arriero, or Spanish for cattle drivers, who historically transported livestock across the Andes mountains.
Description and Classification
Bravasaurus is estimated to have reached a length of approximately 7 meters (23 feet) and weighed close to 2.9 metric tons (3.2 short tons). Its skeletal remains, described from holotype CRILAR-Pv 612 and paratype CRILAR-Pv 613, include various vertebrae, ribs, limb bones such as the humerus and femur, and pelvic elements like the ilium, pubis, and ischium. Phylogenetic analyses place Bravasaurus as a derived member of the Lithostrotia, specifically within the clade Aeolosaurini. This classification suggests it was part of a group of advanced long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs.
Paleoenvironment
The discovery site for Bravasaurus, the Quebrada de Santo Domingo, is notable for containing one of the world's most significant concentrations of titanosaur eggs. This has led researchers to suggest a potential ecological connection between Bravasaurus or its contemporary, Punatitan, and these egg sites. The environment during the Late Cretaceous in this region was likely conducive to supporting large herbivorous dinosaur populations.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Bravasaurus mean?
The generic name Bravasaurus means "Laguna Brava lizard." It is derived from the Laguna Brava National Park in Argentina. The specific name, arreirosorum, refers to the arriero, or cattle drivers, who transported livestock through the Andes in the 19th century.
How large was Bravasaurus?
Bravasaurus was estimated to be roughly 7 meters (23 feet) in length. Its weight was calculated to be nearly 2.9 metric tons (3.2 short tons).
What period did Bravasaurus live in?
Bravasaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period. This geological period lasted from approximately 100.5 to 66 million years ago.
Where were Bravasaurus fossils found?
Fossils of Bravasaurus were discovered in the Ciénaga del Río Huaco Formation in La Rioja, Argentina. The holotype locality is the Quebrada de Santo Domingo site.
What group of dinosaurs did Bravasaurus belong to?
Bravasaurus was a titanosaurian sauropod. It is classified as a derived member of the Lithostrotia and belongs to the clade Aeolosaurini.
Related Dinosaur species
Abditosaurus
Abditosaurus is an extinct genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Catalonia, Spain. It is known from the most complete titanosaur skeleton ever discovered in Europe, representing a large species that inhabited the Ibero-Armorican Island. Phylogenetic analyses suggest it was related to South American and African saltasaurines, distinguishing it from other European dwarf sauropods.
Acantholipan
Acantholipan is a genus of herbivorous nodosaurid dinosaur discovered in Mexico. It lived during the early Santonian age of the Late Cretaceous period and is known from fragmentary fossils, including a partial skeleton with osteoderms. Acantholipan gonzalezi is the type species, named in honor of paleontologist Arturo Homero González-González.
Acanthopholis
Acanthopholis is a genus of herbivorous ankylosaurian dinosaur belonging to the family Nodosauridae. It lived during the Late Cretaceous Period in England and is characterized by its distinctive armor, including keeled plates and prominent spikes along its neck and shoulders. The genus name translates to "spiny scales."