Species · GBIF taxon 4967377
Rocasaurus muniozi
Rocasaurus munioziRocasaurus muniozi was a dwarf titanosaur that roamed the floodplain environments of Late Cretaceous Patagonia. Unlike its gargantuan relatives, this small sauropod possessed compact limbs and specialized, highly pneumatic vertebrae that significantly lightened its skeleton while foraging on low vegetation. Osteoderms embedded in its hide provided passive defense against predatory abelisaurs sharing its ancient river basin.
HerbivoreSauropod
Licensed referenceRodolfo A. Garcia and Leonardo Salgado / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Conifer foliage
- Cycads
- Ferns
Predators
- Quilmesaurus curriei
- Abelisaurid theropods
ThreatsAbelisaurid predators and Late Cretaceous climate shifts
HabitatsSemi-arid floodplains and coastal lowland basins
Life span20–30 years
Classification
- FamilySaltasauridae
- SpeciesRocasaurus muniozi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known from fossils; poses no hazard to modern observers.
Responsible observation
- Museum Exhibits: Observe mounted skeletons and fossil casts at Argentine natural history museums.
- Fossil Etiquette: Leave discovered fossil material in situ and notify paleontologists immediately.
Predator Rubén Juárez Valieri, Lucas Fiorelli, Laura Cruz / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Contemporary Ornithopsis / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Close Relative Jl FilpoC / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative LadyofHats Altered by Steveoc 86 and FunkMonk / Public domain · cc0
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.