# Acostasaurus

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Genus of pliosaurid (fossil)

Acostasaurus Temporal range: Barremian ~130–120 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Cranial reconstruction of Acostasaurus pavachoquensis Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Superorder: †Sauropterygia Order: †Plesiosauria Suborder: †Pliosauroidea Family: †Pliosauridae Genus: †Acostasaurus Species: †A. pavachoquensis Binomial name †Acostasaurus pavachoquensis Gómez Pérez & Noè, 2017

***Acostasaurus*** (meaning "[Acosta](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carlos_Eduardo_Acosta-Arteaga&action=edit&redlink=1)'s lizard") is an extinct genus of possibly [Thalassophonean](/source/Thalassophonea) [pliosaurid](/source/Pliosaurid) known from the [Barremian](/source/Barremian) of the [Paja Formation](/source/Paja_Formation), [Colombia](/source/Colombia). The type specimen, **UNDG R-1000**, is known from a near complete skull, and postcranial elements including a complete hindlimb and various vertebrae.[1] The specimen has an estimated size of over 4 metres (13 ft) in length.[2]

## Description

Reconstruction

The type specimen is noted for possessing several features that pertain to a subadult individual: for example, the sagittal crest is not fully ossified, as well as possessing undeveloped palatine wings. It is possible however that *Acostasaurus*, like other [plesiosaurs](/source/Plesiosauria), was [paedomorphic](/source/Paedomorphic).[3]

From what is preserved, the orbits are large, rounded and deeply notched dorsally. The sclerotic ring of the specimen is also very large, suggesting that *Acostasaurus* was adapted to see in deep or murky waters.

An unusual feature of *Acostasaurus* is that it possesses a short mandibular symphysis, containing only 6 pairs of functional alveoli (5 and ½, considering that the symphysis terminates level with the middle of the sixth pair). The short, wide symphysis is one of the features which differentiates *Acostasaurus* from other contemporary pliosaurids such as the various [brachauchenine](/source/Brachauchenine) pliosaurs from the formation.[1] Other pliosaurids which possess this condition include the [Jurassic](/source/Jurassic) taxon *[Simolestes](/source/Simolestes)*, which like *Acostasaururs* has large orbits, as well as a short symphysis.[4] Gómez-Pérez et al. note that the base of the functional alveoli in *Acostasaurus* are confluent with Meckel's canal as in *Simolestes*, and that it also possessed a heavily swollen and ornamented [sagittal crest](/source/Sagittal_crest) to form a parietal knob, also found in *Simolestes*.[1]

## Classification

As brachauchenine pliosaurs are the only pliosaurids known from the Barremian stage, especially from Colombia, Gómez Pérez et al. compared *Acostasaurus* to a variety of brachauchenine taxa in the paper. The authors however concluded that referral of the genus to the subfamily is problematic: *Acostasaurus* possesses [caniniform](/source/Caniniform) dentition, whereas brachauchenines possess longirostrine homodont dentition. As discussed before, *Simolestes* and other less derived pliosaurids possess similar dentition, especially in the arrangement that are present in *Acostasaurus*.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cranial_description_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cranial_description_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cranial_description_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cranial_description_1-3) Marcela Gómez Pérez; Leslie F. Noè (2017). "Cranial anatomy of a new pliosaurid *Acostasaurus pavachoquensis* from the Lower Cretaceous of Colombia, South America". Palaeontographica Abteilung A. 310 (1–2): 5–42. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1127/pala/2017/0068](https://doi.org/10.1127%2Fpala%2F2017%2F0068).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Cortés, Dirley; Larsson, Hans C.; Parra, Juan De Dios (2022). "The Early Cretaceous Paja Formation biota in Colombia reveals an exuberant predator fossil record and a complex ecological network". [*82nd Annual Meeting - SVP 2022 Program Guide*](https://vertpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-SVP-Program-Abstract-Brochure_Preliminary.pdf) (PDF). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. p. 136.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Araujo, Ricardo. (2015). New aristonectine elasmosaurid plesiosaur specimens from the Early Maastrichtian of Angola and comments on paedomorphism in plesiosaurs. Geologie en Mijnbouw. FirstView. 10.1017/njg.2014.43.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Noè, L. F. (2001). A taxonomic and functional study of the Callovian (Middle Jurassic) Pliosauroidea (Reptilia, Sauropterygia). Chicago

v t e Sauropterygia Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Subclass: Diapsida Clade: Neodiapsida Sauropsida see Sauropsida Sauropterygia see below↓ Sauropterygia Sauropterygia Alexeyisaurus Atopodentatus Palatodonta? Pomolispondylus? Hanosaurus? Helveticosauridae? Eusaurosphargis? Helveticosaurus Saurosphargidae Hemilopas? Largocephalosaurus Prosaurosphargis Saurosphargis Sinosaurosphargis Stauromatodon? Placodontia Paraplacodus Pararcus Placodus Cyamodontoidea Cyamodus Glyphoderma Henodus Macroplacus Parahenodus Placochelys Protenodontosaurus Psephochelys Psephoderma Psephosauriscus Psephosaurus Sinocyamodus Eosauropterygia see below↓ Eosauropterygia Eosauropterygia Brevicaudosaurus? Corosaurus Cymatosaurus Lamprosauroides? Pachypleurosauria Anarosaurus Chusaurus Dactylosaurus Dawazisaurus? Diandongosaurus Dianmeisaurus Dianopachysaurus Hanosaurus? Honghesaurus Keichousaurus Luopingosaurus Majiashanosaurus Neusticosaurus Odoiporosaurus Prosantosaurus Panzhousaurus Qianxisaurus Serpianosaurus Wumengosaurus Nothosauroidea Hispaniasaurus? Sanchiaosaurus Simosauridae Paludidraco Simosaurus Nothosauria Brevicaudosaurus? Carinthiasaurus Ceresiosaurus Germanosaurus Lariosaurus Lijiangosaurus Metanothosaurus Nothosaurus Proneusticosaurus Silvestrosaurus Wangosaurus? Pistosauroidea Augustasaurus Bobosaurus Chinchenia Kwangsisaurus Pistosaurus Tanaisosaurus Wangosaurus? Yunguisaurus Plesiosauria see below↓ Plesiosauria Plesiosauria Anningasaura Bathyspondylus Bobosaurus? Lindwurmia Sinopliosaurus Termatosaurus? Rhomaleosauridae Anningasaura? Archaeonectrus Atychodracon Avalonnectes Bishanopliosaurus? Borealonectes Eurycleidus Lindwurmia? Macroplata Maresaurus Meyerasaurus Rhomaleosaurus Sthenarosaurus Stratesaurus Thaumatodracon Yuzhoupliosaurus? Pliosauridae Anguanax Arminisaurus Attenborosaurus Cryonectes Hauffiosaurus Marmornectes Pachycostasaurus Rhaeticosaurus Thalassiodracon Thalassophonea Eardasaurus Gallardosaurus Liopleurodon Lorrainosaurus Megalneusaurus Peloneustes "Pliosaurus" andrewsi Pliosaurus Simolestes Brachaucheninae Acostasaurus Boyacasaurus Brachauchenius Eiectus Kronosaurus Luskhan Makhaira Megacephalosaurus Monquirasaurus Polyptychodon Sachicasaurus Stenorhynchosaurus Plesiosauroidea Eoplesiosaurus Eretmosaurus Franconiasaurus Leurospondylus Plesionectes Plesiopharos Plesiopterys Plesiosaurus Westphaliasaurus Microcleididae Hydrorion Lusonectes Microcleidus Occitanosaurus Seeleyosaurus Cryptoclidia see below↓ Cryptoclidia Cryptoclididae Opallionectes Colymbosaurinae Abyssosaurus Colymbosaurus Djupedalia Pantosaurus Spitrasaurus Cryptoclidinae Cryptoclidus Kimmerosaurus Ophthalmothule Tatenectes Muraenosaurinae Muraenosaurus Picrocleidus Tricleidus? Vinialesaurus Xenopsaria Leptocleidia Hastanectes? Nichollssaura? Leptocleididae Brancasaurus Hastanectes? Leptocleidus Nichollssaura? Umoonasaurus? Vectocleidus Polycotylidae Edgarosaurus Manemergus Mauriciosaurus Thililua Palmulasaurinae Pahasapasaurus? Palmulasaurus Occultonectia Plesiopleurodon Sulcusuchus Polycotylinae Eopolycotylus Georgiasaurus Polycotylus Scalamagnus Serpentisuchops Trinacromerum Dolichorhynchia Dolichorhynchops Martinectes Unktaheela Elasmosauridae Callawayasaurus Cimoliasaurus Eromangasaurus Goniosaurus Jucha Lagenanectes Leivanectes Mauisaurus Ogmodirus Orophosaurus Plesioelasmosaurus Scanisaurus Traskasaura Wapuskanectes Woolungasaurus Euelasmosaurida Cardiocorax Libonectes Thalassomedon Elasmosaurinae Albertonectes Elasmosaurus Fluvionectes Hydrotherosaurus? Nakonanectes Styxosaurus Terminonatator Weddellonectia Aphrosaurus Chubutinectes Futabasaurus Fresnosaurus? Hydrotherosaurus? Kawanectes Marambionectes Morenosaurus Tuarangisaurus Vegasaurus Zarafasaura? Aristonectinae Alexandronectes Aristonectes Kaiwhekea Morturneria Wunyelfia

v t e Paleontology in Colombia Notable researchers After 1900 Etayo Hammen Hettner Hoffstetter Páramo 19th century Cuvier Humboldt Major fossiliferous stratigraphic units Pleistocene Sabana Fm. Tibitó Soatá Fm. Neogene Barzalosa Fm. Castilletes Fm. Honda Group La Venta Jimol Fm. Uitpa Fm. Ware Fm. Paleogene Bogotá Fm. Cerrejón Fm. Cerrejón Cretaceous La Frontera Fm. Hiló Fm. Hondita Fm. Oliní Gp. Paja Fm. Jurassic Arcabuco Fm. Valle Alto Fm. Devonian Cuche Fm. Floresta Fm. Notable fossils Pleistocene Gomphotheres Megatherium Honda Gp. Anachlysictis Aramus paludigrus Balanerodus Boreostemma Cebupithecia Colombophis Dracaena colombiana Dukecynus Eunectes stirtoni Galbula hylochoreutes Granastrapotherium Gryposuchus Hilarcotherium Hoazinoides Hondadelphys Huilatherium Lagonimico Langstonia Lycopsis Micodon Miocallicebus Miocochilius Mohanamico Mourasuchus Neotamandua Nuciruptor Patasola Potamosiren Purussaurus Saimiri annectens Saimiri fieldsi Stirtonia Xenastrapotherium Gualanday Gp. Colombitherium Bogotá Fm. Etayoa Cerrejón Fm. Acherontisuchus Anthracosuchus Carbonemys Cerrejonemys Cerrejonisuchus Montrichardia aquatica Puentemys Titanoboa Oliní Gp. Eonatator Hondita Fm. Pachyrhizodus etayoi Yaguarasaurus Hiló Fm. Ammonites Paja Fm. Acostasaurus Callawayasaurus Desmatochelys Kronosaurus Leivanectes Leyvachelys Muiscasaurus Padillasaurus Platypterygius Sachicasaurus Stenorhynchosaurus Arcabuco Fm. Dinosaur tracks Valle Alto Fm. Flora Cuche Fm. Antarctilamna Asterolepis Bothriolepis Holoptychius Pterygotus Strepsodus Floresta Fm. Trilobites Category • Images

Taxon identifiers Acostasaurus Wikidata: Q55603154 Wikispecies: Acostasaurus GBIF: 11201139 IRMNG: 11930963 Paleobiology Database: 402683 Taxonomicon: 6447065

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Acostasaurus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acostasaurus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acostasaurus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.