THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUUWASSEA EMILIEAE (DINOSAURIA: SAUROPODA) FOR FLAGELLICAUDATAN INTRARELATIONSHIPS AND EVOLUTION

Abstract

Suuwassea emilieae is a recently described dinosaur taxon discovered in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the western United States and the only non-diplodocid flagellicaudatan (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) known from North America. It retains sauropod symplesiomorphies that are unexpected in a Late Jurassic taxon and thus sheds light on the evolutionary origins of the Flagellicaudata. Despite being comparatively small, the holotype of Suuwassea demonstrates hallmarks of relatively advanced age. A phylogenetic analysis of 30 taxa and 331 characters retains Suuwassea in a trichotomy with the Diplodocidae (Apatosaurus + (Diplodocus + Barosaurus)) and the Dicraeosauridae (Dicraeosaurus + Amargasaurus). This lack of resolution is probably due to a combination of missing data, character conflict and poor incorporation of specimens referred to diplodocid taxa that differ from their holotype specimens and species holotypes. Middle Jurassic palaeobiogeographical reconstructions conflict with the hypothetical distribution of flagellicaudatans in the Middle and Late Jurassic based on their phylogeny, implying that physical barriers, such as epeiric seas, were not responsible for limiting their initial radiation. The postparietal foramen shared by Suuwassea, Dicraeosaurus, Tornieria and Amargasaurus may correlate to preferred existence in near-shore, terrestrial environments. © The Natural History Museum.