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Athenar bermani
Taxonomy
Athenar bermani was named by Whitlock et al. (2025). Its type specimen is CM 26552, a partial skull (braincase and partial skull roof), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Dinosaur National Monument Quarry (CM), which is in a Tithonian coarse channel fill sandstone in the Morrison Formation of Utah. It is the type species of Athenar.
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Athenar bermani Whitlock et al. pp. 2-3 fig. 1–3 |
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
†Athenar bermani Whitlock et al. 2025
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Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| J. A. Whitlock et al. 2025 | Dicraeosaurid sauropod based upon: 1) the presence of postparietal and frontoparietal fenestrae, 2) the exclusion of the basioccipital from the dorsal margin of the occipital condyle by the exoccipitals, 3) the presence of a distinct prong on the squamosal, 4) contribution of the frontal to the margin of the supratemporal fenestra, 5) an expanded crista prootica, 6) free dorsal margin of the antotic process, 7) the presence of a "shelf” overhanging the foramen for the trigeminal (V) nerve, and 8) the flat distal margin of the paroccipital process (Whitlock and Wilson Mantilla, 2020; n.b. the specimen referred to Apatosaurus by Balanoff et al. [2010] also appears to display postparietal and frontoparietal fenestrae, although ongoing work by JAW as well as preliminary work by Moore and Mannion [2024] suggest dicraeosaurid affinities for that specimen as well). Distinct from Suuwassea emilieae based upon: 1) the presence of a single foramen for passage of the abducens (VI) nerve, 2) a narrow, midline ventral expansion of the foramen for the optic nerve and 3) greater size at maturity (see below). Additionally, there appears to be a notable gap in geologic age between the Tithonian A. bermani and the Kimmeridgian S. emilieae (but see also Maidment and Muxworthy, 2019 and Maidment, 2023 for dissenting opinion on relative ages). Distinct from Kaatedocus siberi based upon: 1) the presence of a frontoparietal fenestra and 2) the contribution of the frontal to the supratemporal fenestra in CM 26552. Distinct from Smitanosaurus agilis based upon: 1) the presence of a broad supraoccipital crest and 2) the contribution of the frontal to the supratemporal fenestra in CM 26552. Can be distinguished from all other dicraeosaurids by a single autapomorphy: the presence of a ‘tooth’ in the parietal/opisthotic suture. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: infrao = infraorder | |||||
| References: Marsh 1875, Kiessling 2004 | |||||
Age range: Early/Lower Tithonian or 149.20000 to 145.06000 Ma
Collections: one only
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early/Lower Tithonian | USA (Utah) | Athenar bermani (type locality: 21852) |