Amazonsaurus maranhensis gen. et sp nov (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) of Brazil

A new genus and species of an Aptian-Albian sauropod from the Itapecuru Formation, northern Brazil, Amazonsaurus maranhensis. is described. It is known from an incomplete, but diagnostic postcranial skeleton. The new taxon possesses several autapomorphies, such as the anterior caudal vertebrae with lateral laminae formed by the coalescence of the spinoprezygapophyseal and postzygodiapophyseal laminae and, to a lesser extent, of the postzygodiapophyseal laminae. It exhibits many synapomorphies supporting its inclusion in the Diplodocoidea. These include high caudal neural arches and anterior caudal neural arches with spinoprezygapophyseal laminae on the lateral aspect of the neural spine. This record is consistent with previous hypotheses on the existence of a community of Afro-South American dinosaurs. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.