Pronunciation: bah-HAH-dah-SOR-us
Meaning: Downhill lizard
Author/s: Gallina et al. (2019)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Neuquén, Argentina
Discovery Chart Position: #1000
Bajadasaurus pronuspinax
(Bajada lizard with forward-curving spines)Etymology
Bajadasaurus is derived from the Spanish "Bajada" (downhill) in reference to the locality of Bajada Colorada where it was found and the Greek "sauros" (lizard).
The species epithet, pronuspinax, is derived from the Latin "pronus" (bent forwards) and the Greek "spinax" (spine), referring to the curved, forward-pointing spines on its neck vertebra.
Discovery
The remains of Bajadasaurus were discovered at the Bajada Colorada locality of the Bajada Colorada Formation (Neuquén Basin), 40km south of Picún Leufú town on the National Route 237, Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina, by Pablo Gallina in 2013.The holotype (MMCh-PV 75) is a partial skull and lower jaw with teeth, and a few neck bones, including a long forked spine attached to a neck vertebra.
