Jainosaurus
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Extinct (fossil)
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J. septentrionalis |
Jainosaurus (Jain's lizard) was a large titanosaurid dinosaur of India and wider Asia, which lived in the Maastrichtian (approximately 68 mya). A herbivorous quadruped, an adult Jainosaurus would have measured around 18 m long and 6m high. No accurate estimate of the weight has yet been made.
The taxonomic status of Jainosaurus is disputed on many fronts. The first remains found were classified as Antarctosaurus septentrionalis by Friedrich von Huene and Matley in 1933, but in 1995 Hunt, Locley, Lucus & Meyer recognised them as forming a distinct genus. However, Jain himself (for whom the dinosaur is named) now believes that the remains represent merely a young or female Titanosaurus and not a distinctive genus at all. It is unlikely that the matter will be decided soon as so few remains have been found - only a basicranium and partial postcrania [1].
[edit] References
- Jainosaurus in The Dinosaur Encyclopaedia at Dino Russ' Lair
