The first braincase belonging to an Early Cretaceous sauropod from North America is described. The diagnostic characters of this well preserved partial braincase are: prominent supraoccipital crest, with a distinct median ridge extending almost to the foramen magnum; short, ventrally directed basitubera, divided by a deep groove extending to the basipterygoid; single foramen for cranial nerve XII; accessory foramen for cranial nerve XI. A lack of juvenile characters suggests this specimen, although quite small, belongs to an adult individual. Comparison of this specimen with other sauropod crania indicates strong similarities with brachiosaurids and titanosaurids.
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1 March 2003
BRAINCASE OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS TITANOSAURIFORM SAUROPOD FROM TEXAS
VIRGINIA TIDWELL,
KENNETH CARPENTER
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Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Vol. 23 • No. 1
March 2003
Vol. 23 • No. 1
March 2003