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Biogeographic origin of Diplodocidae

        During the Late Jurassic, camarasaurids and diplodocids were restricted 
to
Laurasia, while dicraeosaurids and titanosaurids were restricted to
Gondwana. The occurrence of these sauropod taxa outside their presumed area
could be interpreted as the result of dispersal events. 
        Besides the Tanzanian Barosaurus most of the diplodocids are from North
America. In Europe, only Cetiosauriscus is known in England and Switzerland
but, in other hand, is the earliest known diplodocid (Callovian to
?Tithonian). Therefore this could suggest that the origin of Diplodocidae
was in Europe but soon spread through North America (where had the higher
genera diversification) and East Africa. 
        Anyone have more data on the biogeographic origin of Diplodocidae?

        Octávio Mateus

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Octávio MATEUS
GEAL- Museu da Lourinhã
Rua João Luis de Moura
2530 Lourinhã
PORTUGAL
Email: museulourinha@mail.telepac.pt
Telefone & Fax: ++351.61.413995
http://portugal.hpv.pt/geal/