Pronunciation: MAX-a-KAH-lee-SOR-us
Meaning: Maxakali (Brazilian tribe) lizard
Author/s: Kellner et al. (2006)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Minas Gerais, Brazil
Discovery Chart Position: #591
Maxakalisaurus topai
Apart from a single diplodocoid, all Brazilian sauropods described thus far have been titanosaurs. The problem is; Brazilian titanosaurs are known mostly from moderately poor to just plain poor fossils, and while Maxakalisaurus doesn't quite buck that trend, it is known from more than a series of vertebrae and the odd hip bone, which can only be a good thing.
Afforded the briefest of mentions by DDR Henriques way back in 1998, Maxakalisaurus was heralded as Brazil's largest known dinosaur when Kellner officially described it in 2006, and it became Brazil's fifth member of Titanosauria—the Titan lizards—which conjures up a beast of epic proportions. Funnily enough, the holotype was "only" thirteen meters in length and around nine tons in weight based on guestimation. But unusually slender upper arm bones suggest it was a mere juvenile with plenty of growing still to do.
Based on the shape of a lonesome jawbone, palaeontologists reckon Maxakalisaurus had a rounded snout typical of titanosaurs but was unusual (though not unique) in sporting ridged pencil-like teeth. A single bony plate found with the only known specimen suggests an affinity with the armoured branch of titanosaurs known as lithostrotians, but, armoured or not, the lay of its bones and tell-tale bite marks hint that Maxakalisaurus had been both trampled and chewed, probably by the theropod that left some of its teeth at the scene.
França tentatively assigned a partial lower jaw with five teeth from the holotype dig site to Maxakalisaurus in 2016.
Afforded the briefest of mentions by DDR Henriques way back in 1998, Maxakalisaurus was heralded as Brazil's largest known dinosaur when Kellner officially described it in 2006, and it became Brazil's fifth member of Titanosauria—the Titan lizards—which conjures up a beast of epic proportions. Funnily enough, the holotype was "only" thirteen meters in length and around nine tons in weight based on guestimation. But unusually slender upper arm bones suggest it was a mere juvenile with plenty of growing still to do.
Based on the shape of a lonesome jawbone, palaeontologists reckon Maxakalisaurus had a rounded snout typical of titanosaurs but was unusual (though not unique) in sporting ridged pencil-like teeth. A single bony plate found with the only known specimen suggests an affinity with the armoured branch of titanosaurs known as lithostrotians, but, armoured or not, the lay of its bones and tell-tale bite marks hint that Maxakalisaurus had been both trampled and chewed, probably by the theropod that left some of its teeth at the scene.
França tentatively assigned a partial lower jaw with five teeth from the holotype dig site to Maxakalisaurus in 2016.
(Topa's Maxakali Lizard)Etymology
Maxakalisaurus is derived from "Maxakali" (the Indian tribe who inhabit the Minas Gerais region) and the Greek "sauros" (lizard). The species epithet, topai, honours "Topa" (one of the Maxakali deities).
Discovery
The remains of Maxakalisaurus were discovered at Serra da Boa Vista (Boa Vista Hill) in the Adamantina Formation, 28 miles from the city of Prata, Minas Gerais, Brazil, by a crew from the Museu Nacional at Campina Verde in 1998.
The holotype (MN 5013-V) is a partial skeleton including a lump of upper jawbone with teeth, 12 neck vertebrae, seven back vertebrae, 6 tail vertebrae, some hip bones, footbones, a thigh, both upper "arm" bones and a single armour plate.
