Pronunciation: TEE-yet-uh-SOR-uh
Meaning: Tieta lizard
Author/s: Bandeira et al. (2024)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Bahia State, Brazil
Discovery Chart Position: #1126
Tietasaura derbyiana
(Derby's Tieta lizard)Etymology
Tietasaura is derived from "Tieta" (a nickname for Antonieta in Portuguese) and the Greek "saura" (the feminine form of "sauros", meaning "lizard"). The name honours the main character from the novel "Tieta do Agreste" by the famous author Jorge Amado, who was born in Bahia and lived in Salvador City. Antonieta also means "priceless", alluding to the value of Tietasaura as the first ornithischian dinosaur from Brazil.
The species epithet, derbyiana, honours Orville A. Derby (1851–1915), founder and first director of the Brazilian Mineralogical and Geological Commission (Serviço Geológico e Mineralógico do Brasil, nowadays SGB), and former director of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro (MN). Derby was one of the pioneers of palaeontology in the Recôncavo Basin, and fought valiantly for the scientific progress of the Brazilian geosciences, despite all tragedies in his life and the blatant lack of governmental support. ZooBank registry: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:814725BB-A522-465F-975D-1755A11C3956.
Discovery
The remains of Tietasaura were discovered in the Marfim Formation (Ilhas Group, Recôncavo Basin) on a beach near the Plataforma Station (Locality 3), Salvador City, Bahia State, Brazil, at some point between 1859 and 1906.The holotype (NHM-PV R.3424) is a small left thigh bone.
