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Iberospinus Natarioi
''Iberospinus'' or (meaning "Iberian Peninsula, Iberian spine") is an extinct genus of Spinosauridae, spinosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Papo Seco Formation of Portugal. The genus contains a single species, ''I. natarioi'', known from several assorted bones belonging to one individual. ''Iberospinus'' represents one of three known spinosaurid taxa from the Iberian Peninsula, the others being ''Vallibonavenatrix'', and ''Camarillasaurus''. It is important for its implications of the geographical origin of Spinosauridae and the suggested presence of an at least semi-aquatic lifestyle early in the evolution of this clade. Discovery and naming The first fossil material was discovered in 1999, with additional expeditions from 2004 to 2008. After being described as a specimen of ''Baryonyx'' in 2011, it was realised to have been a unique species in 2019. Additional material was discovered in a June 2020 expedition, after which ''Iberospinus'' was Species descr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Early Cretaceous
The Early Cretaceous ( geochronological name) or the Lower Cretaceous (chronostratigraphic name), is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous. It is usually considered to stretch from 145 Ma to 100.5 Ma. Geology Proposals for the exact age of the Barremian-Aptian boundary ranged from 126 to 117 Ma until recently (as of 2019), but based on drillholes in Svalbard the defining early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a) was carbon isotope dated to 123.1±0.3 Ma, limiting the possible range for the boundary to c. 122–121 Ma. There is a possible link between this anoxic event and a series of Early Cretaceous large igneous provinces (LIP). The Ontong Java-Manihiki-Hikurangi large igneous province, emplaced in the South Pacific at c. 120 Ma, is by far the largest LIP in Earth's history. The Ontong Java Plateau today covers an area of 1,860,000 km2. In the Indian Ocean another LIP began to form at c. 120 Ma, the Kerguelen P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
