New data on Late Jurassic sauropods of central and northern sectors of the Bombarral Sub-basin (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal)

Abstract

The Upper Jurassic’s central and northern sectors of the Bombarral Sub-basin are relatively poor in sauropod material, highlighting the specimens (mainly teeth) found in the Guimarota mine (Leiria) and the Andrés (Pombal) fossil site. The study of published and the unpublished sauropod material allows for a revision of the present state of sauropod diversity of the Bombarral Sub-basin. These new specimens come from Pombal, Leiria, Batalha, Porto de Mós, Alcobaça and Caldas da Rainha, and include an almost complete posterior or middle dorsal neural spine and a partial caudal series. The systematic re-evaluation of the sauropod record of this sector indicates the presence of turiasaurs, diplodocines, titanosauriforms and an indeterminate eusauropod form. During the last part of the twentieth century, the discovery of fossil vertebrates has increased significantly in the sediments cropping out in the central and northern sectors of the Bombarral Sub-basin (Alcobaça and Bombarral Formations), improving our understanding of the Late Jurassic faunas of the Lusitanian Basin.

Keywords:

• Lusitanian Basin
• Bombarral Sub-basin
• Upper Jurassic
• Sauropoda
• Diplodocinae

Acknowledgements

We want to thank M. Ramalho and R. Silva (MG, LNEG, Portugal), L. Chiappe and M. Walsh (NHMLAC, USA), R. Allain (MNHN, France), S. Chapman (NHMUK, UK), D. Schwarz (HNM, Germany), E. Howlett (OUMNH, UK), R. Castaninha and C. Tomás (ML, Portugal), the Herrero family (MPG, Spain), L. Póvoas and P. Dantas (MNHNC, Portugal), M. Cachão and C.M. da Silva (IDL and FCUL), Portugal), M.F.C. Pereira (MDT, IST, Portugal), L. Machado (MMPM, Portugal), C. Manso (MMB, Portugal), A. Aberasturi (MUPE, Spain) and L. Alcalá for allowing us the access to the specimens (FCPT-Dinópolis, Spain). We are also grateful to B.C. Silva, G. Ramalheiro, A. Mano and J.J. dos Santos (SHN, Portugal), A. Pérez-García, C. de Miguel Chaves, A. Serrano and A. Páramo (UNED, Spain), F. Marcos (UCM, Spain), N. Pimentel (IDL and FCUL, Portugal) J. L. Sanz (UAM, Spain), F. Gascó and A. Cobos (FCPT-Dinópolis, Spain) for the support and comments. We also appreciate the critical comments of J.L. Carballido and F. Holwerda for suggested improvements to the manuscript.