Xenoposeidon proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. is a neosauropod represented by BMNH R2095, a well-preserved partial mid-to-posterior dorsal vertebra from the Berriasian–Valanginian Hastings Beds Group of Ecclesbourne Glen, East Sussex, England. It was briefly described by Lydekker in 1893, but it has subsequently been overlooked. This specimen's concave cotyle, large lateral pneumatic fossae, complex system of bony laminae and camerate internal structure show that it represents a neosauropod dinosaur. However, it differs from all other sauropods in the form of its neural arch, which is taller than the centrum, covers the entire dorsal surface of the centrum, has its posterior margin continuous with that of the cotyle, and slopes forward at 35 degrees relative to the vertical. Also unique is a broad, flat area of featureless bone on the lateral face of the arch; the accessory infraparapophyseal and postzygapophyseal laminae which meet in a V; and the asymmetric neural canal, small and round posteriorly but large and teardrop-shaped anteriorly, bounded by arched supporting laminae. The specimen cannot be referred to any known sauropod genus, and clearly represents a new genus and possibly a new ‘family’. Other sauropod remains from the Hastings Beds Group represent basal Titanosauriformes, Titanosauria and Diplodocidae; X. proneneukos may bring to four the number of sauropod ‘families’ represented in this unit. Sauropods may in general have been much less morphologically conservative than is usually assumed. Since neurocentral fusion is complete in R2095, it is probably from a mature or nearly mature animal. Nevertheless, size comparisons of R2095 with corresponding vertebrae in the Brachiosaurus brancai holotype HMN SII and Diplodocus carnegii holotype CM 84 suggest a rather small sauropod: perhaps 15 m long and 7600 kg in mass if built like a brachiosaurid, or 20 m and 2800 kg if built like a diplodocid.
Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Anterior
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Posterior
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Interpretive Drawing of Xenoposeidon Proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. Holotype
Interpretive drawing of Xenoposeidon proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. holotype in A, left lateral, B, right lateral, C, anterior, and D, posterior views. Scale bar represents 200 mm. Breakage is indicated by diagonal hatching. The PPDL (preserved only on the left side) is a sheet of bone projecting anterolaterally from the neural arch with its anterolateral margin running dorsoventrally, but which is broken off just dorsal to the parapophysis.
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Maps Indicating Location of Ecclesbourne Glen
Maps indicating location of Ecclesbourne Glen, near Hastings, East Sussex, England, the probable discovery site of the holotype of Xenoposeidon proneneukos gen. et sp. nov.
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Left Anterolateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Dorsal
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Xenoposeidon proneneukos specimen photo right lateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Right Posterolateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Left Posterolateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. Holotype, Speculative Reconstruction
Xenoposeidon proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. holotype, mid to posterior dorsal vertebra BMNH R2095, speculative reconstruction, in left lateral view. The location of the prezygapophyses, postzygapophyses and diapophyses are inferred with some confidence from the preserved laminae; the neural spine is based on an idealized slender neosauropod neural spine. Scale bar represents 200 mm.
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Left Lateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Anterior
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Phylogenetic Relationships of Xenoposeidon Proneneukos
Phylogenetic relationships of Xenoposeidon proneneukos, produced using PAUP* 4.0b10 on the matrix of Harris (2006) augmented by Xenoposeidon, having 31 taxa and 331 characters. A, strict consensus of 1089 most parsimonious trees (length, 785; CI, 0.5248; RU, 0.6871, RC = 0.3606). B, 50 per cent majority rule consensus. Clade names are positioned to the right of the branches that they label; occurrence percentages are positioned to the left of these branches.
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. Holotype
Xenoposeidon proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. holotype in A, left lateral, B, right lateral, C, anterior, and D, posterior TEXT-FIG. 4. views. Scale bar represents 200 mm.
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Posterior
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Left Posterodorsolateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Right Posterodorsolateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Detail
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Anterior Centrum
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Anteroventral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Detail
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Anterior
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Posterior
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Oblique Right Anterolateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Right Lateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Anterior
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Left Lateral
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Posterior
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Schematic Lithostratigraphy of the Wealden
Schematic lithostratigraphy of the Wealden indicating the origin of the holotype of Xenoposeidon proneneukos gen. et sp. nov. within the Ashdown Beds Formation of the Hastings Beds Group.
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Xenoposeidon Proneneukos Specimen Photo Anterior
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