Saltasaurus

Saltasaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. It is a member of Titanosauria, a diverse group of long-necked herbivores that dominated many southern landmasses during the latter part of the dinosaur era. Saltasaurus loricatus, the type species, is notable for being among the first sauropods discovered with body armor in the form of osteoderms embedded in the skin.

Discovery and naming: Fossils of Saltasaurus were described in 1980 by José Bonaparte, Fernando Novas and colleagues from specimens collected in Argentina. The name Saltasaurus derives from the locality associated with the finds, and loricatus refers to the armored appearance of the animal.

Anatomy and anatomy: Saltasaurus was a medium-sized sauropod by titanosaurs standards, typically estimated around several meters in length. Like other titanosaurs, it had a long neck and tail and a sturdy, columnar limb stance. Its most distinctive feature is the presence of osteoderms—bony plates embedded in the skin along the back and other regions—indicating an armored skin arrangement that is uncommon among sauropods.

Classification and significance: Saltasaurus is placed within Titanosauria, and its armor contributed important evidence that dermal plates occurred in some sauropods. The genus has often been associated with a broader, possibly related group known as Saltasauridae, though precise relationships among titanosaurs remain a topic of ongoing study.

Paleoecology: Saltasaurus inhabited riverine or floodplain environments in southern South America during the Late Cretaceous and was adapted to a herbivorous, quadrupedal lifestyle. Its armor may have offered protection from predators and could have played a role in species recognition or thermoregulation.

Fossil material: The known fossils include postcranial skeleton elements and osteoderms, with the holotype and associated material guiding its identification and interpretation.