Sauropoda

   More commonly known to the public under the informal name "brontosaurs," sauropods are probably one of the top three general types of classic dinosaurs most likely to enter the average person's mind when they hear the word dinosaur (the other two being tyrannosaurids and "raptors", with ceratopids and stegosaurids rounding out the top five).  Their general form is instantly recognizable: four stout legs (interestingly, derived sauropods reduce the number of bones in their fingers and toes; titanosaurians, for example, may well have lacked hand claws entirely), long neck and tail, miniscule head, and large body.  Some might consider them boring, because it can be claimed once you've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all, but they are worth a second look.  They were one of Nature's most amazing feats of living engineering, every feature a balance between strength and lightness on a scale never seen before or since.  All had at least depressions in their vertebrae, and in some, like the brachiosaurids, the verts are heavily excavated (such holes are called pleurocoels) and even the ribs have hollowing.  The largest sauropod is almost certainly not known yet.  Stereotypically, sauropods lived in bodies of water, but it has been shown that such a lifestyle would have seriously hindered breathing, to say the least.  Although sometimes restored with an elephant-like hide, sauropods were scaled and many may have had nonbony spines, like those of an iguana, running down their backs.  In addition, there has been recent discussion about the orientation of the shoulder blades; if set more level, as has been suggested, the front end of the skeleton is raised noticeably.
    Sauropods appear to come in three or four general varieties: macronarians, diplodocoids, and a spray of basal forms for variety.  Macronarians include the camarasaurids, brachiosaurids, and titanosaurians, rather conservative sauropod groups, but ironically the last sauropods appear to have been titanosaurians.  Some forms are known to have possessed body armor.  They are foremost a Gondwana phenomenon.  The diplodocoids, on the other hand, are mainly Laurasian and African in membership, best known for being very long, lean and somewhat lower to the ground than macronarians.

<--Sauropoda
      `--+--Antetonitrus
           `--+--Isanosaurus
                `--+--Kotasaurus
                     `--+--?Vulcanodontidae
                          |      |--Tazoudasaurus
                          |      `--Vulcanodon
                          `-->Eusauropoda
                                                                                                                                                             
This looks very short, but trust me here; there are enough dubious sauropods to take up plenty of space.

Sauropoda: 

Taxon or Taxa: Time\Place: Comments:
Antetonitrus ingenipes Yates and Kitching, 2003 late Carnian-early Norian (LTr) of South Africa A newly described, small but robust basal sauropod, Antetonitrus had been identified as a specimen of Euskelosaurus.  It is based on a partial skeleton including some vertebrae and ribs, and most of the fore and hindlimbs.  The hands are interesting in that the thumbs appear to retain a manipulatory ability, like the prosauropods.
Isanosaurus attavipachi Buffetaut, Suteethorn, Cuny, Tong, Le Loeuff, Khansubha, and Jongautchariyakul, 2000 late Norian or Rhaetian (LTr) of Thailand One of the earliest-known sauropods, Isanosaurus is based on partial postcranial remains including a cervical, dorsal, six caudals, sternal plate, scapula, and femur, probably from a subadult individual.  It appears to have been very basal.  A humerus from the same time and place indicate an animal about 12-15 in length, but it is not known if it is the same animal as Isanosaurus.  
Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis Yadagiri, 1988 Pliensbachian-Toarcian (EJ) of India Like most basal sauropods, this animal is very much like the larger prosauropods.

?Vulcanodontidae:  This is a possible clade of basal sauropods.

Taxon or Taxa: Time\Place: Comments:
Vulcanodon karibaensis Raath, 1972 Hettangian (EJ) of Zimbabwe Named for shed teeth found along with the type that turned out to belong to a theropod, Vulcanodon is one of the earliest known sauropods and also one of the least derived.
Tazoudasaurus naimi Allain, Aquesbi, Dejax, Meyer, Monbaron, Richir, Rochdy, Russell, and Taquet, 2004 Pliensbachian-Toarcian (EJ) of Morocco This basal sauropod is known from the remains of an adult and juvenile; the adult remains include partial skull and (rather oddly bent, unless the photograph is of the piece unrestored) lower jaw, and a variety of postcranial material.  Among the basal sauropods, it is closest to Vulcanodon.  It was a smallish sauropod, on the order of 9 m long.

Sauropoda i.s.: Okay, here's the big stuff.
    A ?Kimmeridgian (?LJ) cervical from Yemen appears to belong to a sauropod, and other Kimmeridgian remains in Argentina are from an undescribed basal sauropod.

Taxon or Taxa: Time\Place: Comments:
Aepisaurus elephantinus (N.D.) Gervais, 1852 Albian (EK) of France This dubious sauropod may be a brachiosaurid, as its type humerus is apparently not either from a camarasaurid or titanosaurian, two earlier popular choices.  It is sometimes misspelled Aepysaurus.
Algoasaurus bauri (N.D.) Broom, 1904 mid Tithonian-early Valanginian (LJ-EK) of South Africa Based on poor remains rescued from pulverization into bricks, this animal could be a camarasaurid, titanosaurid, or diplodocid.
"Apatosaurus" minimus (?N.D.) Mook, 1917 Kimmeridgian (LJ) of Wyoming Based on a sacrum, this animal may be a macronarian, a very early titanosaurian, or, more likely, a "cetiosaur"-type sauropod.
Archaeodontosaurus descouensi Buffetaut, 2005 Bathonian (MJ) of Madagascar This sauropod is based on a lower jaw that deepens toward the front, as in derived sauropods, yet retains "prosauropod" (whatever prosauropod is now)-like teeth, with features like serrations.  The describer notes that it is more common for basal sauropods to do the opposite, i.e. have shallow, "prosauropod"-like lower jaws but spoon-shaped sauropod teeth.  This animal raises some questions about the diversity of Madagascar sauropods at that time, the describer stating that it differs from Lapparentosaurus and the "Bothriospondylus" complex, and that at least two sauropods are known from the deposits. 
Asiatosaurus mongoliensis (N.D.) Osborn, 1924 (?Euhelopus) ?Valanginian-Albian (EK) of Mongolia and ?China This tooth taxon may be the same as Euhelopus or a close relative.  An Euhelopus-like vertebra from China has been tentatively referred to the type, without justification in my opinion.
"Asiatosaurus" kwangshiensis (N.D.) Hou, Yeh, and Zhao, 1975 ?Barremian-?early Aptian (EK) of China Just like Asiatosaurus proper, this is a dubious sauropod based on teeth.
"Bashunosaurus kaijiangensis" (N.N.) Kuang, 1996 vide Li, Zhang, and Cai, 1999 ?MJ-?LJ of China This sauropod was described as a camarasaurid, which leaves open the possibility it is actually an "euhelopodid."
Blikanasaurus cromptoni Galton and Heerden, 1985 late Carnian-early Norian (LTr) of Lesotho This large basal sauropod is based on a partial hindlimb (minus femur) including a partial foot showing four stout metatarsals.  This supports the idea that sauropod feet shortened for strength, and the fifth metatarsal "met them in the middle," so to speak.  It has been traditionally considered a prosauropod.
Bothriospondylus suffossus (N.D.) Owen, 1875 late Oxfordian-early Kimmeridgian (LJ) of England and ?France Based on vertebrae and not particularly well known, this sauropod has historically been regarded as close to Brachiosaurus (well, since there have been brachiosaurids, of course).  Remains from Madagascar have been mostly referred to Lapparentosaurus, while a good skeleton is apparently included in the French material (which is dealt with here out of convenience, as there is no reason to call it Bothriospondylus).
"Bothriospondylus" elongatus (N.D.) Owen, 1875 Barremian (EK) of England This indeterminate sauropod is based on a vertebra.
"Brachiosaurus" nougaredi (N.D.) Lapparent, 1960 Albian-early Cenomanian (EK-LK) of Algeria The sparse remains of this animal, a sacrum and partial forelimb, are not enough to tell us if it really belongs in Brachiosaurus.
Bruhathkayosaurus matleyi (N.D.) Yadagiri and Ayyasami, 1989 Coniacian (LK) of India Bruhathkayosaurus is named from an ilium over 1.2 meters long, with some limb bones and et cetera referred.  It was first described as a giant theropod, but the preservation is so poor other workers are unsure if the limb bones may not be petrified wood.  Given the size, the time, and the place, it's most likely a titanosaurian of some sort, but little has been published beyond the initial description and its very unhelpful line drawings.
"Campylodon" ameghinoi (N.D.) Huene, 1929 (Campylodoniscus) late Cenomanian-early Turnonian (LK) of Argentina Also known as Campylodoniscus (Kuhn, 1961), this sauropod, based on an unusual maxilla, may be a late-surviving basal titanosaurian.  It has teeth intermediate between basal sauropod spatulate teeth and titanosaurid pegs.
Cardiodon rugulosus (?N.D.) Owen, 1844 late Bathonian (MJ) of England Based on a tooth, this taxon has long been referred to Cetiosaurus, which may be true but cannot be proven because no definite skull material has been found for European Cetiosaurus.  In fact, recent study suggests that Cardiodon is not referable to Cetiosaurus and may represent a valid taxon based on its unique form.  It could be a turiasaurian.
"Cetiosaurus":  "C." longus (N.D.) Owen, 1842 Bajocian (MJ) of England Occasionally referred to Cetiosauriscus, this is a dubious sauropod based on dorsal and caudal centra.
"C." medius ("type") (N.D.) Owen, 1842 Bajocian (MJ) of England Although this species has been known to science for longer than any other sauropod species, it is still poorly known (that's what being based on lousy material will do to you).  At one time it was though to be a marine reptile.  As it is a dubious type species for a well-known genus, and because of other taxonomic problems (see Pelorosaurus), a petition will be made to make C. oxoniensis the type species (and so I'm going to pretend it's already been done, so don't tell anyone, okay?).
"C." mogrebiensis Lapparent, 1955 late Bathonian (MJ) of Morocco "C." mogrebiensis is known from the remains of three individuals.  A nearly-complete skeleton referred to it actually belongs to the basal brachiosaurid Atlasaurus.  It has been little studied, and there's no real reason to assign it to Cetiosaurus.
Chiayusaurus lacustris (N.D.) Bohlin, 1953 (?Asiatosaurus or Mamenchisaurus) Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian (LJ) or ?Barremian-Albian (EK) of China Chiayusaurus may well be congeneric with another dubious sauropod tooth taxon, Asiatosaurus, or even Mamenchisaurus.  (Older references may list this animal as Chiayüsaurus, but such special symbols are now prohibited from official taxonomic use)
"Chiayusaurus" asianensis (?N.D.) Lee, Yang, and Park, 1997 Aptian-Albian (EK) of South Korea This is a poorly-known EK sauropod.  Like the genus to which it was assigned, it is based on a spatulate tooth.
Chinshakiangosaurus chunghoensis Ye vide Dong, 1992 EJ of China This name had been floating around forever, and was mostly ignored, until suddenly people figured out that it had been published or something.  Seriously, this was about as obscure as could be, usually tossed off as an unofficial name for a sauropod or "melanorosaurid".  Now, though, the type lower jaw, and some other remains as well (verts, scapulae, pelvic bones, and leg bones),  has hit the presses.  It is considered some sort of basal sauropod, but things are still exploding violently in that area of dinosaur research, so check back in a couple of years once Prosauropod Pinball is finished.  It seems to have had cheeks.
Chondrosteosaurus gigas (N.D.) Owen, 1876 Barremian (EK) of England Another indeterminate Wealden sauropod, based on two cervical centra, this one was once tentatively synonymized with Regnosaurus, which later turned out to be a basal stegosaurian .
"Chondrosteosaurus" magnus (N.D.) Owen, 1876 Barremian (EK) of England This is an indeterminate sauropod based on a dorsal.
Chuanjiesaurus anaensis Fang, Pang, Lu, Zhang, Pan, Wang, Li, and Cheng, 2000 early MJ of China This large, newly-described taxon was referred to as a cetiosaurid.  It is known from postcranial remains, including a scapula, humerus, numerous caudals, and forked chevrons.  Remains from possibly three individuals are known, the largest possibly 25 meters in length (quite long for an early sauropod).
Clasmodosaurus spatula (N.D.) Ameghino, 1899 Santonian-early Campanian (LK) of Argentina This is an indeterminate sauropod based on teeth.
"Dachongosaurus yunnanensis" (N.N.) Zhao, 1985 late Sinemurian-Pliensbachian (EJ) of China Like its predecessor, this is similar to the prosauropods.  Again, I wouldn't be surprised if this turned out to be an informal name for something now published.
"Damalasaurus magnus" (N.N.) Zhao, 1983 (species through Zhao, 1986) MJ of China This undescribed sauropod may be related to the brachiosaurids or "euhelopodids".
Datousaurus bashanensis Dong and Tang, 1984 Bathonian-Callovian (MJ) of China Datousaurus is much more rare than its contemporaries Shunosaurus and Omeisaurus.  In many ways it converges on the condition one would expect for a basal diplodocoid, but a possible skull is very robust and un-diplodocoid.  For a basal sauropod, it is rather long, on the order of 50 feet long.
Dinodocus mackesoni (N.D.) Owen, 1884 (?Pelorosaurus) Aptian (EK) of England Based on partial sauropod limbs, this possible brachiosaurid is sometimes referred to Pelorosaurus.
Eucamerotus foxi (N.D.) Hulke, 1871 (species name added by Blows, 1995) Barremian (EK) of England One of many indeterminate Wealden Formation sauropods, this is based on a dorsal neural arch, with other referred vertebrae.  A new partial skeleton from the Isle of Wight has been referred to it by some researchers; while this is not settled, it does appear to be different from Pelorosaurus. 
Gigantosaurus megalonyx (N.D.) Seeley, 1869 Kimmeridgian (LJ) of England This is an indeterminate sauropod, possibly the same as others from the same time and area.  It is not to be confused with the carcharodontosaurid theropod Giganotosaurus.
Gongxianosaurus shibeiensis He, Wang, Liu S., Zhou, Liu T. Cai, and Dai, 1998 ?Pliensbachian-Toarcian (EJ) of China This is another prosauropod-like (?actual prosauropod) EJ sauropod.  3 partial skeletons are known, including cranial material.  The tail has simple chevrons which, like those of some prosauropods, are rather long, forming a deep tail.  A restoration shows belly ribs, but I have been unable to find them in the description.  With more description, it may prove to be very important in determining the relationship of basal sauropods to prosauropods.  It may be more basal than Antetonitrus.  A second species may be known.
"Hisanohamasaurus" (N.N.) Lambert, 1990 LK of Japan This undescribed sauropod may be a nemegtosaurine.
Histriasaurus boscarollii (?N.D.) Dalla Vecchia, 1998 late Hauterivian-early Barremian (EK) of Croatia This recently-named sauropod is the first named dinosaur from Croatia, based on a dorsal found on the Adriatic sea bottom.  It may be related to the rebbachisaurids, but it is not presently well-known..
"Iguanodon" praecursor (N.D.) Sauvage, 1876 Kimmeridgian (LJ) of France Like Gigantosaurus, this indeterminate sauropod may be the same as others from the same time and place.
"Ischyrosaurus" manseli (N.D.) Hulke, 1874 vide Lydekker, 1888 Kimmeridgian (LJ) of England A dubious LJ European sauropod based on a humerus, this may be a brachiosaurid.
Klamelisaurus gobiensis Zhao, 1993 Oxfordian (LJ) of China This sauropod converges in some way with the brachiosaurids.  It has also been suggested as the adult form of Bellusaurus.
"Kunmingosaurus wudingensis" (N.N.) Zhao, 1986 Sinemurian (EJ) of China Common story here; another undescribed critter.
"Lancanjiangosaurus cahuensis" (N.N.) Zhao, 1986 LJ of China This sauropod may be an "euhelopodid" or related to the brachiosaurids.
Lessemsaurus sauropoides Bonaparte, 1999 late Norian (LTr) of Argentina Based on a partial vertebral column, with fairly tall neural arches, this basal sauropod was originally described as a "melanorosaurid" prosauropod, but seems to be closer to more derived sauropods than Melanorosaurus.
Macrurosaurus semnus (N.D.) Seeley, 1896 Barremian (EK) of England Macrurosaurus is based on caudal remains.  Some of the assigned remains of this animal, but apparently not the type, pertain to a titanosaurian.
Mamenchisaurus constructus Yang, 1954 Oxfordian (LJ) of China This sauropod is famous for its extremely long neck.  Ironically, the species that was best known for this, "M." hochuanensis, exhibits many differences from the type and probably doesn't belong.  That said, this animal is still very long-necked.  A number of N.N. species have been referred to this taxon, but as they would tend to increase the clutter here for no good reason, I have left them out.  The type species is known to have had forked chevrons and bifid presacral neural spines.
"Mamenchisaurus": "M." jingyanensis Zhang, Li, and Zheng, 1998 ?Oxfordian (?LJ) of China This taxon appears to be different from both Mamenchisaurus and "M." hochuanensis; among other differences, its dorsal vertebrae are procoelous, while those of the other two taxa mentioned are opisthocoelous.  The hollows in its vertebrae are poorly developed, suggesting that this is a rather basal sauropod.
"M." anyuensis He, Yang, Cai, Li, and Liu, 1996 Oxfordian (LJ) of China Another day, another possible species of Mamenchisaurus.
Marmarospondylus robustus (N.D.) Owen, 1875 late Bathonian (MJ) of England Sometimes assigned to Bothriospondylus, the time separation of the two makes that unlikely.
"Megacervixosaurus tibetensis" (N.N.) Zhao, 1983 ?LK of China This is an undescribed sauropod (?or melanorosaurid).
"Microdontosaurus dayensis" (N.N.) Zhao, 1983 ?LK of China Like its predecessor, this is just an undescribed ?sauropod.
Morinosaurus typus (N.D.) Sauvage, 1874 Kimmeridgian (LJ) of France Based on a tooth, this sauropod may be a titanosaurian, if it was correctly described and illustrated.
Neosodon [no species name] (N.D.) Moussaye, 1885 Kimmeridgian (LJ) of France Based on a spoon-shaped tooth and usually tossed off as an indeterminate brachiosaurid, additional remains from the area suggest that it may have actually been a large "camarasaurid" or turiasaurian.  However, since the type is only a tooth, it is hard to make the identification stick.  It is sometimes listed as N. praecursor, with the teeth from "Iguanodon" praecursor assigned to it, but spoon-shaped sauropod teeth are very common.
"Nemegtosaurus" pachi (N.D.) Dong, 1977 early Maastrichtian (LK) of China This indeterminate tooth taxon may be a nemegtosaurine.
Ohmdenosaurus liasicus Wild, 1978 mid Toarcian (EJ) of Germany This basal sauropod is based on a partial hindlimb, which was once thought to belong to a plesiosaur.
Omeisaurus junghsiensis
Yang, 1939		 Bathonian-Callovian (MJ) of China Omeisaurus proper is known from several partial skeletons and a skull.  What it constitutes has not yet been fully addressed.
"Omeisaurus": "O." changshouensis Yang, 1958 Oxfordian (LJ) of China This animal appears to be closer to Mamenchisaurus or "Mamenchisaurus" than to Omeisaurus.  It has been a continual problem.
"O." luoquanensis Li, 1988 Bathonian-Callovian (MJ) of China Like other species referred to Omeisaurus, this one may or may not belong here.
"O." maoianus Tang, Jin, Kang, and Zhang, 2001 Bathonian-Callovian (MJ) of China This animal is from the same horizon as the type, and is known from a complete skull and partial postcranium including three cervicals, four dorsals, twenty-two caudals, most of the pelvic girdle, and most of the limbs.  The presacral neural spines show no bifurcation.  The skull is short, without much of a snout, and does not particularly resemble either that for "O." tianfuensis or O. junghsiensis.  It may be more derived than the former.
Oplosaurus armatus (?N.D.) Gervais, 1852 Barremian (EK) of England This is another dubious Wealden sauropod, based on a large tooth sometimes ascribed to Pelorosaurus, but which may represent a late turiasaurian.  
The story of its name goes that it was compared to Hylaeosaurus, and thus the name means "armored lizard".  However, it was actually compared to Mosasaurus (giant sea lizard), so the name could mean "armed lizard". 
"Ornithopsis":  "O." eucamerotus (N.D.) Hulke, 1882 Barremian (EK) of England Based on a pubis and ischium from the Isle of Wight, this species has often been tossed into Pelorosaurus.  It may represent a brachiosaurid.
"O." leedsi (N.D.) Hulke, 1887 Callovian (MJ) of England This is an indeterminate ?brachiosaurid based on a pelvis.
"O." greppini (?N.D.) Huene, 1922 Tithonian (LJ) of Switzerland Uh, it's a Swiss dinosaur; you don't see that that often...and nobody ever really talks about it...and it's based on the partial remains of multiple individuals, so maybe if someone looked, it might be useful...and it was once assigned to Cetiosauriscus.
Protognathosaurus oxyodon Olshevsky, 1991 (originally Protognathus oxyodon Zhang, 1988) Bathonian-Callovian (MJ) of China The original entry I had for this dinosaur ran like this: "Here is my favorite pet hypothesis.  Usually tossed off as an indeterminate sauropod, I suspect that this animal may actually  be a very early therizinosaurian.  It is based on a partial lower jaw with an unusual downward bend.  I have four reasons to suspect this is not a sauropod: first, the bend of the jaw is unlike the bend in any known sauropod, but compares well with known therizinosaurs (sauropod jaws sometimes have a downward angle to the bottom, but never the top); second, there are an unusually high number of teeth for a sauropod, but not for a therizinosaurian; third, the shape of the teeth compares well with both prosauropod and therizinosaurian teeth; and finally, the teeth are largest at the front of the jaw and then become much smaller, a therizinosaurian characteristic.  This animal could be either a basal therizinosaurian or a bizarre, unusually primitive sauropod.  Note that I have been wrong before..."
Well, I'm here to say that I'm very sure I was wrong after having seen a presentation on a new basal EK therizinosaurian (Falcarius) at SVP.  Suffice it to say that basal therizinosaurians were similar to other maniraptorans, and were apparently not pure herbivores.  I now support the second possibility, that of a bizarre early sauropod.  The jaw is distinctive, but we need some more of the rest of the animal to do much with it.
Pukyongosaurus millenniumi (N.D.) Dong, Paik, and Kim, 2001 Hauterivian or early Aptian (EK) of South Korea This new species is known mostly from several cervical and dorsal vertebrae.  The cervicals have tall neural spines.
Qinlingosaurus luonanensis Xue, Zhang, and Bi, 1996 mid-late Maastrichtian (LK) of China Little is yet known of this sauropod.  It is based on some postcranial material (ilium, ischium, and 3 verts) that doesn't distinguish it well from other sauropods.
"Rebbachisaurus" tamesnensis (N.D.) Lapparent, 1960 (?Jobaria) Albian (EK) of Algeria, Niger, and Tunisia An apparently common EK African sauropod, "R." tamesnensis may have been a camarasaurid, unlike true Rebbachisaurus.  It is also rather dubious.  In fact, it is usually now just chucked in with Jobaria, but we'll see.  Or we won't.
Rhoetosaurus brownei Longman, 1925 Bajocian (MJ) of Australia Known from most of the rear end of a moderately-sized generalized eusauropod, Rhoetosaurus is a rare Australian dinosaur, and one of its first-described examples.
Sonorasaurus thompsoni (?N.D.) Ratkevich, 1998 latest Albian (EK) of Arizona Based on a partial skeleton of what was reported as a "pygmy" brachiosaurid, this animal is not based on the best of material.  What was once reported to be a skull among the remains has turned out to be a distorted vertebra. 
"Sugiyamasaurus" (N.N.) Lambert, 1990 K of Japan This is an informal name for a Japanese sauropod, possibly a camarasaurid or "euhelopodid".
"Teishanosaurus" (N.N.) Dong, 1990 ?MJ of China This undescribed sauropod may be a misspelling of Tienshanosaurus, a sauropod from approximately the same time and place.
Tienshanosaurus chitaiensis Yang, 1937 (?Euhelopus) Oxfordian (LJ) of China Known from a partial postcranial skeleton, Tienshanosaurus is the first Chinese sauropod known from good remains and still one of its more obscure.
"Titanosaurus":  "T." montanus (N.D.) Marsh, 1877 (Atlantosaurus) Kimmeridgian (LJ) of Colorado This indeterminate sauropod is better known under Marsh's second name for it, Atlantosaurus, which makes a fair amount of cameos in old dinosaur books.  It is based on remains that most likely belong to Apatosaurus or something very much like it.
"T." rahioliensis (N.D) Mathur and Srivastava, 1987 Maastrichtian (LK) of India This is an indeterminate sauropod based on teeth.
Ultrasaurus tabriensis (N.D.) Kim, 1983 Aptian-early Albian (EK) of South Korea Unlike what its name implies, this was actually a small sauropod. Its type partial humerus was originally identified as a lower arm bone, making it seem larger than it really is.  Because it was named before "Ultrasaurus" macintoshi, that animal had to be renamed Ultrasauros.  It didn't really matter in the end, though, because Ultrasauros turned out to be Supersaurus.
"Yibinosaurus zhoui" (N.N.) Ouyang vide Anonymous, 2001 EJ of China This will likely turn out to be a new basal sauropod.
Zigongosaurus fuxiensis Hou, Zhao, and Chu, 1976 (?Mamenchisaurus, "Mamenchisaurus", Omeisaurus, or "Omeisaurus") Bathonian-Callovian (MJ) of China As can be seen, this taxon has very little "job security."  Because it is uncertain what the sauropods listed as possible synonyms constitute, this animal is retained.  It is known from sediments that are roughly between the age of those Omeisaurus is found in and those Mamenchisaurus is found in.  Its neural spines show some bifurcation, but apparently its chevrons were simple, suggesting this may be a camarasaurid or opisthocoelicaudiine instead.  At one time, it was suggested to be a brachiosaurid.
Zizhongosaurus chuanchengensis Dong, Zhou, and Zhang, 1983 Toarcian (EJ) of China Not to be confused with Zigongosaurus, this is another poorly-known basal sauropod.

 

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