Erketu ellisoni, a long-necked sauropod from Bor Guvé (Dornogov Aimag, Mongolia)

Title Variants

Alternative: Long-necked sauropod from Bor Guvé (Dornogov Aimag, Mongolia)

Alternative: Sauropod from Mongolia

Related Titles

Series: American Museum novitates, no. 3508

By

Ksepka, Daniel T.

Norell, Mark A.
Mongolian-American Museum Paleontological Project.
Mongolyn Shinzhlėkh Ukhaany Akademi.

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

New York, NY American Museum of Natural History c2006

Notes

Caption title.

"March 16, 2006."

Specimen collected during the 2002 field season of the American Museum of Natural History-Mongolian Academy of Sciences Paleontological Project.

The first specimen of the new sauropod Erketu ellisoni, from the Lower Cretaceous of the eastern Gobi of Dornogov, Mongolia, is described here. The specimen comprises a well-preserved articulated anterior cervical series, an articulated lower hindlimb, and a sternal plate. This sauropod displays a unique combination of features including low, bifid neural spines, elongate cervical centra, and crescent-shaped sternal plates. Computed tomography imaging reveals the vertebrae were extensively invaded with pneumatic camellae. The holotype individual of Erketu was of modest mass relative to other neosauropods, but had an extremely elongate neck. Phylogenetic analysis indicates Erketu is a member of the Somphospondyli and may belong to a more exclusive clade therein.

Subjects

Cretaceous , Dinosaurs , Dornogovʹ Aĭmag , Erketu ellisoni , Mongolia , Paleontology , Reptiles, Fossil

Call Number

QL1 .A436 no.3508 2006

Language

English

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1206/0003-0082(2006)3508[1:EEALSF]2.0.CO;2
OCLC: 65174852