@article{f57137d5e47c492c8e406ea48ac4f76f,
title = "A complete titanosaur femur from west texas with comments regarding hindlimb posture",
abstract = "An isolated titanosaur femur recovered from the Javelina Formation (Maastrichtian) of Big Bend National Park, Texas is the most complete example yet reported from North America. The specimen is likely referable to Alamosaurus sanjuanensis, the only titanosaur thus far known from Upper Cretaceous strata in North America, but cannot be attributed with certainty to that taxon. Compared to femora from other titanosaurs, the specimen has a relatively reduced abductor crest, a less elevated femoral head, and a distal joint surface that is orthogonal to the long axis of the shaft. These differences suggest that the Big Bend femur pertains to a species where hindlimb stance was closer to vertical, and with a comparatively narrower gait than other titanosaurids.",
keywords = "Alamosaurus, Hindlimb, Late Cretaceous, Sauropod, Texas",
author = "Wick, {Steven L.} and Lehman, {Thomas M.}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of NPS Geologist Don Corrick of the Division of Science and Resource Management for his support of this project. Members of the Big Bend National Park law enforcement community helped with the excavation of the specimen. NPS Rangers Billie Brauch, Jorge Sanchez, and Mike Ryan were especially innovative regarding collection of the specimen. A special word (and apple) of gratitude was extended to the NPS horse “Ringo” for his determination in helping us move a heavy load over rugged terrain. We also thank Bill Mueller at the Museum of Texas Tech, Scott Cutler at the Centennial Museum of the University of Texas at El Paso, and Chris Sagebiel at the Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory at the Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, and Ruth O'Leary at the American Museum of Natural History for their help with access to and information about the specimens described herein. Our late colleague Wann Langston, Jr. at Texas Memorial Museum provided access to his notes, photographs, and measurements for some of the specimens, including TTU 542, one of the first specimens he discovered in Big Bend in 1938, and that he returned to collect after WW II in 1947. Jack McIntosh recognized the titanosaur affinity of AMNH FARB 21531, which was collected by Barnum Brown in 1940 from northern Tornillo Flat in what would later become Big Bend National Park. UTEP P-25 was collected in 1939 near Talley Mountain in what would later become Big Bend National Park by a crew supported by the Works Progress Administration ( Strain, 1940 ). Appreciation is offered also to J. Wick and E. Lehman for their continued indulgence of the authors{\textquoteright} paleontological endeavors.",
year = "2014",
month = may,
doi = "10.1016/j.cretres.2014.02.003",
language = "English",
volume = "49",
pages = "39--44",
journal = "Cretaceous Research",
issn = "0195-6671",
}