Re: Yuanmousaurus, Sonidosaurus &Dapingfangornis was Re: Some Asian papers

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

> Sonidosaurus saihangaobiensis
> A specimen collected from the Upper Cretaceous Erlian Formation of Nei 
> Mongol (Inner Mongolia),
> China, represents a new genus and species of titanosaurian sauropod. The 
> new taxon is named and
> described on the basis of the holotype and the only known specimen, which 
> comprises several
> dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, several dorsal ribs, one anterior 
> chevron, and much of the
> pelvis. Diagnostic features of the new species include a thick ridge 
> extending down from the
> postzygapophysis on the lateral surfac...

...e of the neural arch of the posterior dorsal vertebrae, a transversely 
oriented accessory lamina present between the anterior centroparapophyseal 
limina [sic] and the lateral centraprezygapophyseal lamina of the posterior 
dorsal vertebrae, long, anteroventrally directed caudal rib that bears two 
distinctive fossae on its posterior margin on the anterior caudal vertebrae 
and a prominent vertical ridge above the pubic peduncle on the medial 
surface of the ilium, among others. The ilium is pneumatic, a feature not 
common among non-avian dinosaurs. The new taxon has an unusual combination 
of primitive and derived character states. Preliminary character analysis 
shows a complex character distribution within the Titanosauriformes. Recent 
titanosauriform discoveries suggest that a significant radiation occurred in 
Asia early in the titanosauriform evolution."

Several similarities to *Opisthocoelicaudia* are noted.

The ilium is likewise pneumatic "in several other titanosaurs" and in 
*Amazonsaurus*.

The -ao- in the species name is genuine.