The titanosaurian dinosaur Atsinganosaurus velauciensis (Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of southern France: New material, phylogenetic affinities, and palaeobiogeographical implications

A phylogenetic analysis including 29 sauropod taxa was performed, with the European titanosaurs Atsinganosaurus, Ampelosaurus, Lirainosaurus, Lohuecotitan, Paludititan (Late Cretaceous) and Normanniasaurus (Early Cretaceous) all scored in the same analysis for the first time. Atsinganosaurus and Ampelosaurus form a clade that is phylogenetically proximal to Lirainosaurus within Lithostrotia - a clade here named Lirainosaurinae nov. - whereas Lohuecotitan and Paludititan form a clade towards the base of Lithostrotia. Normanniasaurus is resolved outside Lithostrotia, but within Titanosauria. From a palaeobiogeographical perspective, the phylogenetic results suggest that European titanosaurs belong to at least three distinct lineages and that two lithostrotian lineages were present during the latest Cretaceous in the European archipelago.