Re: Afroventer sauropod

[Tom Holtz <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov>]

>  What was found out about the sauropod that was found with the Afroventer?
> Was it a new dinosaur, or was it just a new specimen?

Sereno et al. consider this to be (probably) a new genus and species.  Part
of the question here is related to research on Saharan sauropods during the
1940s-1960s:  many dinosaur species (including sauropods) were named on
very fragmentary specimens.  For example, the genus "Rebbachisaurus" is a
sauropod which has gained some notoriety as being the third example of a
"finned" dinosaur in mid-Cretaceous North Africa (the others are the
theropod Spinosaurus and the iguanodontian Ouranosaurus).  However, named
"species" of Rebbachisaurus include a set of teeth (which are very similar
to the In Abaka sauropod's teeth), the tall-spined vertebrae, a scapula,
and other fragments.  It is not certain which (if any) of these bones
actually go together.  If the previously discovered "Rebbachisaurus" teeth
go with the tall-spined vertebrae, than Sereno et al.s beast is probably
not Rebbachisaurus.

Thus, Sereno et al. have to check carefully among all those fragments to a)
see if any of those species are diagnostic and b) if there new sauropod can
be confidentally referred to one of those named species.

                                
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                   
tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                  Phone:      703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey                                FAX:      703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA  22092
U.S.A.