Karongasaurus Explained

Karongasaurus (meaning Karonga lizard) is a genus of titanosaur sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous. The type species, K. gittelmani, was described by Elizabeth Gomani in 2005.[1]

Discovery and naming

The holotype (specimen Mal-175), consisting solely of part of a lower mandible and twenty isolated teeth, were found in the Dinosaur Beds of Malawi between 1987 and 1992. Karongasaurus was the first dinosaur named in a publication that was published solely online; Karongasaurus gittelmani was named and described by Gomani (2005).[2]

Description

The mandible of Karongasaurus is U-shaped in dorsal view and the teeth are described as slender and conical in shape, being more cylindrical than those of Malawisaurus.

Classification

Gomani (2005) placed Karongasaurus within Titanosauria.

Notes and References

  1. Gomani, E. M. (2005). Sauropod Dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of Malawi, Africa. Palaeontologia Electronica Volume: 8, Issue: 1, Pages: 37pp.
  2. http://dml.cmnh.org/2005May/msg00530.html Dinosaur Mailing List entry which announces the genus