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Re: Questions on Opisthocoelicaudia



On Thu, 8 Apr 1999 DRosent288@aol.com wrote:

> I have some questions on the continuing debate on the classification of 
> Opisthocoelicaudia:
> 
> 3.  A new family, Nemegtosauridae, has been been erected for Nemegtosaurus
> and Quaesitosaurus.  I have asked previously if one of those might be the head
> of Opisthocoelicaudia.  (In fact, I have heard a suggestion that N. and O. 
> are not
> only the same species--they may be the same *invidual*--the head may have 
> washed downstream.)  If O. is in fact a titanosaurid or titanosauroid, what 
> effect
> does this have on the validity of Nemegtosauridae?

The family Nemegtosauridae was, I believe, named when it was generally
accepted that these animals were close relatives of diplodocids.  However,
the (few) illustrations I have seen of confirmed titanosaur skulls look
strikingly like that of _Nemegtosaurus_, and this has been observed by
others as well, which indicates that _Nemegtosaurus_ is itself a
titanosaurid, and Nemegtosauridae goes out the window.

-Nick P.