New information on the Madagascan Middle Jurassic sauropod Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis

Raveloson, M. L. T., Clark, N. D.L. and Rasoamiaramana, A. H. (2019) New information on the Madagascan Middle Jurassic sauropod Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis. Geosciences, 9(12), 498. (doi: 10.3390/geosciences9120498)

Abstract

The systematic position of the Middle Jurassic sauropod Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis is not fully understood due to a lack of useful anatomical detail. Despite many new bone fragments from the axial skeleton, post-cranial skeleton, and a hind limb having been previously unearthed, its systematic position has not yet been satisfactorily established. Although this Malagasy taxon is only recognised by two autapomorphies located in the scapula and coracoid, two features of the neural spine, which are reported here, provide additional information on the common autapomorphies shared with the British genus Cetiosaurus. A full description of the femur and neural spine helps to determine some aspects of its relationship to other similar taxa. Remains of Lapparentosaurus madagascariensis have been recovered from mixed facies that may have been deposited in a shallow water lagoon during a transgressive period in the Isallo IIIb subunit in the Majunga Basin.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clark, Dr Neil
• Authors: Raveloson, M. L. T., Clark, N. D.L., and Rasoamiaramana, A. H.
• College/School: University Services > Library and Collection Services > Museum and Art Gallery
• Journal Name: Geosciences
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-3263
• ISSN (Online): 2076-3263
• Published Online: 27 November 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Geosciences 9(12): 498
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License