Saltasauridae

Saltasauridae is a family of sauropod dinosaurs within the larger group Titanosauria, known from the Late Cretaceous of South America. The group is best known for osteoderms, bony armor embedded in the skin, which is most famously displayed by Saltasaurus loricatus. Members of this family are typically characterized by features associated with titanosaur body plans, including relatively short, broad skulls and robust limbs, combined with dermal armor in some species.

Taxonomy and composition of Saltasauridae have varied with different phylogenetic analyses. The type genus is Saltasaurus, and additional titanosaur taxa from Patagonia and surrounding regions have been assigned to Saltasauridae in some classifications, including Neuquensaurus, Rocasaurus, and Bonatitan. However, the precise relationships within Titanosauria remain debated, and some studies place these genera in other subgroups within the Titanosauria rather than in a single, cohesive Saltasauridae.

Anatomy and size within saltasaurids varied among species. Saltasaurus is often cited as one of the smaller well-known titanosaurs, with living animals estimated around 10 to 12 meters in length, while other members may have been somewhat larger or smaller. Across the group, osteoderms are a defining feature in at least some taxa, contributing to armor along the back and sometimes the tail.

Distribution and age are concentrated in Late Cretaceous deposits of Argentina and adjacent regions in Patagonia, with a sparse but notable fossil record compared with other sauropod lineages. Saltasauridae documents an important step in the diversification of titanosaurs in Gondwanan ecosystems.

Ecology and significance: Saltasaurids were quadrupedal herbivores adapted to high-browse vegetation. The armor of Saltasaurus and related taxa provided defense against predators and demonstrated that titanosaurs could evolve dermal ossifications, contributing to broader understanding of sauropod diversity and evolution in the southern continents.