Re: New Titanosaur (Maxakalisaurus) from Brazil

[Jamie Stearns <stearns5@cox.net>]

Well, I see they took the time to classify this one somewhat, as I found 
titanosaur classification to be pretty difficult due to the number of 
described but still "incertae sedis" taxa out there. As far as I could tell, 
there were a number of basal titanosaurs, then Andesauridae which includes 
Epachthosaurus, Andesaurus, and Argentinosaurus (Is this still valid?), a 
proposed family of titanosaurs noted for (I think) amphicoelous vertebrae 
which includes Adamantisaurus, Rinconsaurus, Gondwanatitan, Laplatasaurus 
and possibly the original *Titanosaurus indicus*, the inclusion of which 
would make this the Titanosauridae, and finally the saltasaurids. I don't 
know exactly why the position of Aegyptosaurus is still uncertain, as it's 
been known for a long time now and Stromer most likely figured some of the 
(apparently somewhat complete) material in his papers somewhere. Another 
question: Is a skull known for Argentinosaurus? Many sources say there is no 
skull known, but I've also heard reports that a prospector named Daniel 
Eseisa had found the skull. The one on the Fernbank Museum's impressive 
restoration appears to be similar to a somewhat longer-faced Camarasaurus.

Moving on, I see another Diplodocus-like head has been added to this one. 
Was it preserved at all, or was it simply based on Rapetosaurus?