Rocasaurus

Rocasaurus
Temporal range: Campanian-Maastrichtian, 75–70 Ma
Femur and pelvis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Sauropodomorpha
Clade: Sauropoda
Clade: Macronaria
Clade: Titanosauria
Family: Saltasauridae
Tribe: Saltasaurini
Genus: Rocasaurus
Species:
R. muniozi
Binomial name
Rocasaurus muniozi
Salgado & Azpilicueta, 2000

Rocasaurus (meaning "General Roca lizard") is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod that lived in South America. Rocasaurus was discovered in Argentina in 2000, within the Allen Formation which is dated to be middle Campanian to early Maastrichtian in age (75 to 70 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous). This genus grew up to 8 metres (26 ft) long, making it one of the smaller sauropods. It seems to be closely related to saltasaurid dinosaurs, like Saltasaurus and Neuquensaurus.

The type species, Rocasaurus muniozi, was formally described by Leonardo Salgado and Azpilicueta in 2000.[1] New specimens were described in 2021.[2]

  1. ^ Salgado, L. and C. Azpilicueta. (2000). Un nuevo saltasaurino (Sauropoda, Titanosauridae) de la provincia de Río Negro (Formacíon Allen, Cretácico Superior), Patagonia, Argentina. Ameghiniana 37 (3):259-264.
  2. ^ Rolando MA, Garcia Marsà JA, Agnolín FL, Motta MJ, Rodazilla S, Novas FE (2021-09-20). "The sauropod record of salitral ojo del agua: An upper cretaceous (Allen formation) fossiliferous locality from northern patagonia, Argentina". Cretaceous Research. 129: 105029. Bibcode:2022CrRes.12905029R. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105029. ISSN 0195-6671. S2CID 240577726.