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A new sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Tunisia with extreme avian-like pneumatization

Author

Listed:
  • Federico Fanti

    (Geologiche e Ambientali, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna
    Museo Geologico Giovanni Capellini)

  • Andrea Cau

    (Museo Geologico Giovanni Capellini)

  • Mohsen Hassine

    (Office National Des Mines, Service Patrimoine Géologique, 24 Rue 8601, La Charguia, 2035 Tunis, Tunisia)

  • Michela Contessi

    (Geologiche e Ambientali, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna)

Abstract

Recent interpretations of the postcranial anatomy of sauropod dinosaurs differ about pneumatic features supporting an avian-like ventilatory system; the most conservative workers reject most postcranial pneumatizations as being unambiguous evidence of abdominal air sacs. Here we describe the first articulated dinosaur skeleton from Tunisia and refer it to a new rebbachisaurid sauropod, Tataouinea hannibalis gen. et sp. nov. The Tunisian specimen shows a complex pattern of caudosacral and pelvic pneumatization—including the first report of an ischial pneumatic foramen among Dinosauria—strongly supporting the presence of abdominal air sacs. Character optimization among Rebbachisauridae indicates that in the caudal vertebrae, pneumatization of the neural arches preceded that of the centra; in the pelvis, pneumatization of the bones adjacent to the sacrum preceded that of more distal elements. Tataouinea was more closely related to European nigersaurines than to otherwise Gondwanan rebbachisaurids; this supports an Afro-European route for rebbachisaurid dispersal.

Suggested Citation

  • Federico Fanti & Andrea Cau & Mohsen Hassine & Michela Contessi, 2013. "A new sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Tunisia with extreme avian-like pneumatization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3080
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3080
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