Jurassic World Movie News

Giant sauropod you've probably never heard of

Dinosaurs Forum Topic

Carnosaur

MemberCompsognathusJune 27, 20142063 Views6 Replies

the name? Xenoposeidon proneneukos

It's very much unknown, only described by  a partial posteriod back vertebra. The specimen lacks the anterior face of the Centrum and the upper portion of the neural arch. The centrum is estimated at 200 millimetres (7.9 in) long, and the height of the preserved portion of the vertebra is 300 millimetres (11.8 in) not huge by sauropod standards, but pretty darn big.

Fossil collector Phillip James Rufford discovered the vertebra  in the early 1890s, where it didn't get much attention. It sat collecting dusting in an England museum for more then a century, until Mike Taylor stumbled across it. Analyzing it, he discovered it to be rather different in overall structure then the bones in other sauropod families.

" I immediately realised the bone that would eventually become Xenoposeidon was something strange: it was unmistakable a dorsal vertebra from a sauropod, but didn't look like any dorsal I'd ever seen before. " stated Taylor

So unique is the vertebra that when Taylor attempted to classify it using  a phylogenetic analysis, they found that, although a neosauropod, it didn’t fit ‘comfortably’ into any of the established groups.

Size esimations from a back vertebrate are rather troubling in the field of Paleontology, but Extrapolating from the vertebra suggests that the type individual of Xenoposeidon could have been about 15 metres (50 ft) long and weighed approximately 7.6  tons, if it resembled  Brachiosaurus;  20 m (65 ft) long and 2.8 tonnes (3.1 short tons), if it was built like Diplodocus.

It very well could represent a new lineage of sauropods though, and only when we find more remains will we ever know.

 

Student discovers new dinosaur

I'd like to note i find the Brachiosaurid reconstructions of Xenoposeidon troubling, as the vertebrated do not resemble those of the brachiosaurs....I guess it's the best guess considering we only have a partial fossil 

Nature doesn't deceive us; it is we who deceive ourselves.

Other discussions started by Carnosaur

Replies to Giant sauropod you've probably never heard of

User Avatar
Something Real
Group: Member
Rank: Tyrannosaurus Rex
View Profile

CARNOSAUR - This is extremely compelling news! I'd never heard of the Xenoposeidon - what an incredibly neat animal! Thank you for sharing this with us! :)

User Avatar
UCMP 118742
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

I've heard that name before, but I never really bothered with it.

Keep in mind that many people have died for their beliefs; it's actually quite common. The real courage is in living and suffering for what you believe in. -Brom-

User Avatar
Lord Vader
Group: Member
Rank: Tyrannosaurus Rex
View Profile

Cool find.

Jack of all trades. Master of none

User Avatar
Sci-Fi King25
Group: Member
Rank: Allosaurus
View Profile

I never heard of this before! Thanks for sharing!

“Banana oil.”- George Takei, Gigantis: The Fire Monster

User Avatar
Rex Fan 684
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

Looks like I'm one of the few that recognize this species. I actually have it on my site...

 

http://everythingdinosaurs.weebly.com/xenoposeidon.html

"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names." ―Alpha-98
User Avatar
Allotitan
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

Interesting never heard of it

When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Tell life I don't want you're damn lemons, and then squeeze them into life's eyes!

Join the discussion!



Latest Jurassic World Movies Media
Join the discussion!
Please sign in to access your profile features!
(Signing in also removes ads!)



Forgot Password?
Scified Website LogoYour sci-fi community, old-school & modern
Hosted Fansites
AlienFansite
PredatorFansite
AvPFansite
GodzillaFansite
Main Menu
Community
Help & Info
+

Sign In to contribute!