Chebsaurus

Summary

Chebsaurus is a genus of quadrupedal, herbivorous, cetiosaurid sauropod dinosaur, specifically a eusauropod. It lived in present-day Algeria, in the Callovian aged Aïssa Formation. The type species, C. algeriensis, was named in 2005 by Mahammed et al. and is the most complete Algerian sauropod known. It was around 8 to 9 metres (26 to 30 ft) long.[1]

Chebsaurus
Temporal range: Callovian, 165–163 Ma
Life restoration of the head
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Sauropodomorpha
Clade: Sauropoda
Family: Cetiosauridae
Genus: Chebsaurus
Mahammed et al., 2005
Species:
C. algeriensis
Binomial name
Chebsaurus algeriensis
Mahemmed et al., 2005

The word "Cheb" "شاب" is colloquial Arabic for "young man", as the fossils found were believed to be from a juvenile. The original publication, by Mahammed et al., gives Chebsaurus the nickname "the Giant of Ksour". A second skeleton, also from a juvenile of a similar ontogenetic stage, is also known.[2]

Both skeletons, including cranial material, was found in the Ksour Mountains, part of the Occidental Saharan Atlas (Algerian High Atlas).

References edit

  1. ^ Mahammed, Farida; Läng, Émilie; Mami, Leïla; Mekahli, Larbi; Benhamou, Miloud; Bouterfa, Boumediène; Kacemi, Ali; Chérief, Sid-Ali; Chaouati, Hayate (December 2005). "The 'Giant of Ksour', a Middle Jurassic sauropod dinosaur from Algeria" (PDF). Comptes Rendus Palevol. 4 (8): 707–714. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2005.07.001. ISSN 1631-0683.
  2. ^ Läng, Emilie; Mahammed, Farida (March 2010). "New anatomical data and phylogenetic relationships of Chebsaurus algeriensis (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Algeria". Historical Biology. 22 (1–3): 142–164. doi:10.1080/08912960903515570. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 85347807.

Further reading edit

  • Original paper, in English and French