Zby is an extinctgenus of turiasauriansauropoddinosaur known from the Late Jurassic (late Kimmeridgian stage) of the Lourinhã Formation, central west Portugal. It contains a single species, Zby atlanticus.[1] It is named after , who studied the geology and paleontology of Portugal.
Description[]
Life reconstruction of Zby atlanticus and size comparasion.
Zby was first described and named by Octávio Mateus, Philip D. Mannion and in 2014 and the type species is Zby atlanticus, although it was initially thought to be Turiasaurus riodevensis.[2] It is known solely from its holotype, a closely associated partial skeleton including a complete tooth with root, a fragment of cervical neural arch, an anterior chevron, and an almost complete right pectoral girdle and forelimb. Zby is differentiated from other sauropods based on four autapomorphies, including a prominent posteriorly projecting ridge on the humerus at the level of the deltopectoral crest. Zby is suggested to be closely related to Turiasaurus riodevensis from Spain and Portugal, based on its tooth morphology, extreme anteroposterior compression of the proximal end of the radius, and strong beveling of the lateral half of the distal end of the radius, while some other forelimb traits distinguish these two genera. Nearly all other anatomical features suggest that Zby is a non-neosauropodeusauropod, confirming its position as a turiasaurian.[1]Zby is estimated to measure around 16 to 18 metres in length.
References[]
^ abMateus, O. V.; Mannion, P. D.; Upchurch, P. (2014). "Zby atlanticus, a new turiasaurian sauropod (Dinosauria, Eusauropoda) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 34 (3): 618. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.822875.
