New Species Of Late Cretaceous Rebbachisaurid Sauropod Discovered In Argentina- Sidersaura marae

[Prehistory Resurrection]

Link to article: https://www.sci.news/paleontology/sidersaura-marae-12594.html

[Newt]

Neat! Original paper (paywalled) here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2023.2297914?needAccess=true

This new sauropod is from the Huincul Formation, so it would have lived alongside fellow rebacchisaurids Cathartesaura and Limaysaurus, and the titanosaurs Argentinosaurus, Bustingorrytitan, Choconsaurus, and Chucarosaurus. Quite a diversity of sauropods, especially for the Late Cretaceous, when most areas outside of South America were dominated by ornithischian herbivores.

[Halichoeres]

I saw Cathartesaura and I was like, wait, is that a pun on the turkey vulture? And sure enough, it is. It's moderately clever, but I'm still mad about it.

[Newt]

Then the pun is working as intended!

IIRC (it's been a while since I read the paper) the describers claim they saw a lot of turkey vultures while excavating the Cathartesaura holotype.

For those who aren't bird nerds, the turkey vulture's scientific name is Cathartes aura.

For those who watched Saturday Night Live in the 90s, the turkey vulture is neither a turkey nor a vulture. Discuss amongst yourselves!