A new dicraeosaurid sauropod from the Lower Cretaceous (Mulichinco Formation, Valanginian, Neuquen Basin) of Argentina

A new dicraeosaurid sauropod, Pilmatueia faundezi gen. et sp. nov. from the Mulichinco Formation (Valanginian, Lower Cretaceous, Neuquen Basin, Argentina) is based on isolated skeletal remains collected from a single stratigraphic level, relatively close to each other, with unquestionable dicraeosaurid features in the axial elements. Pilmatueia faundezi is diagnosed by a unique combination of several features that include cervico-dorsal vertebrae with dorsoventrally oriented ridges on the anterior surfaces of the anterior centrodiapophyseal laminae, and posterior dorsal vertebrae with deep fossae at the bases of the bifid neural spines separated by a thick, low, sagittal lamina. Pilmatueia is recovered as the sister taxon of the late Early Cretaceous Amargasaurus cazaui. Pilmatueia increases our knowledge about the record of sauropods during the Valanginian, a period in which dinosaur diversity worldwide is poorly known. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.