Geochemistry of the Late Cretaceous Pandan Formation in Cebu Island, Central Philippines: Sediment contributions from the Australian plate margin during the Mesozoic

Rodrigo, Jerali D.; Gabo‐Ratio, Jillian Aira S.; Queaño, Karlo L.; Fernando, Allan Gil; Silva, Leopoldo P. de; Yonezu, Kotaro; Zhang, Yu

doi:10.1002/dep2.103

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 73 publications

(138 reference statements)

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“…However, recent geological evidence with tectonic and palaeogeographic modelling has advanced the presence of a number of intra-oceanic terranes and island arc provinces within the Neo and Meso-Tethys regions, occuring between Australia and Asia during the Early to mid-Cretaceous. Potential oceanic ‘stepping stones’ include the East Java–West Suluwesi and the Sikuleh and Natal continental fragments, the Sepik Terrane, a proto-Philippine Sea Plate oceanic island arc and the Incertus and Woyla arcs ( Deng et al, 2020 ; Dimalanta et al, 2020 ; Hall, 2012 ; Rodrigo et al, 2020 ; Zahirovic et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new giant sauropod,Australotitan cooperensisgen. et sp. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous of Australia

Hocknull

Wilkinson

Lawrence

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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A new giant sauropod, Australotitan cooperensis gen. et sp. nov., represents the first record of dinosaurs from the southern-central Winton Formation of the Eromanga Basin, Australia. We estimate the type locality to be 270–300 m from the base of the Winton Formation and compare this to the semi-contemporaneous sauropod taxa, Diamantinasaurus matildae Hocknull et al., 2009, Wintonotitan wattsi Hocknull et al., 2009 and Savannasaurus elliottorum Poropat et al., 2016. The new titanosaurian is the largest dinosaur from Australia as represented by osteological remains and based on limb-size comparisons it reached a size similar to that of the giant titanosaurians from South America. Using 3-D surface scan models we compare features of the appendicular skeleton that differentiate Australotitan cooperensis gen. et sp. nov. as a new taxon. A key limitation to the study of sauropods is the inability to easily and directly compare specimens. Therefore, 3-D cybertypes have become a more standard way to undertake direct comparative assessments. Uncoloured, low resolution, and uncharacterized 3-D surface models can lead to misinterpretations, in particular identification of pre-, syn- and post-depositional distortion. We propose a method for identifying, documenting and illustrating these distortions directly onto the 3-D geometric surface of the models using a colour reference scheme. This new method is repeatable for researchers when observing and documenting specimens including taphonomic alterations and geometric differences. A detailed comparative and preliminary computational phylogenetic assessment supports a shared ancestry for all four Winton Formation taxa, albeit with limited statistical support. Palaeobiogeographical interpretations from these resultant phylogenetic hypotheses remain equivocal due to contrary Asian and South American relationships with the Australian taxa. Temporal and palaeoenvironmental differences between the northern and southern-central sauropod locations are considered to explain the taxonomic and morphological diversity of sauropods from the Winton Formation. Interpretations for this diversity are explored, including an eco-morphocline and/or chronocline across newly developed terrestrial environments as the basin fills.

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