Karongasaurus (meaning Karonga lizard) is a genus of titanosaur sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous. The type species, K. gittelmani, was described by Elizabeth Gomani in 2005.[1]

Karongasaurus
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous,
~120–113 Ma
Holotype elements: mandible seen from two angles, and three teeth
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Sauropodomorpha
Clade: Sauropoda
Clade: Macronaria
Clade: Titanosauria
Genus: Karongasaurus
Gomani, 2005
Type species
Karongasaurus gittelmani
Gomani, 2005

Discovery and naming

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The holotype (specimen Mal-175), consisting solely of part of a lower mandible and twenty isolated teeth, were found in the Dinosaur Beds of Malawi between 1987 and 1992. Karongasaurus was the first dinosaur named in a publication that was published solely online;[1] Karongasaurus gittelmani was named and described by Gomani (2005).[1][2]

Description

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The mandible of Karongasaurus is U-shaped in dorsal view and the teeth are described as slender and conical in shape, being more cylindrical than those of Malawisaurus.[1]

Classification

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Gomani (2005) placed Karongasaurus within Titanosauria.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Gomani, E. M. (2005). Sauropod Dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of Malawi, Africa. Palaeontologia Electronica Volume: 8, Issue: 1, Pages: 37pp.
  2. ^ Dinosaur Mailing List entry which announces the genus