Bajadasaurus

Bajadasaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous epoch (late Berriasian to Valanginian stages) of northern Patagonia. It was first described in 2019 based on a single specimen found in 2010 that includes a largely complete skull and parts of the neck. The only species is Bajadasaurus pronuspinax. The genus is classified as a member of the Dicraeosauridae, a group of comparatively small and short-necked sauropods that lived from the Early or Middle Jurassic to the end of the Early Cretaceous. Bajadasaurus sported bifurcated, extremely elongated  neural spines  extending from the neck vertebrae. Similar elongated spines are known from the closely related and more completely known Amargasaurus. Various possible functions have been proposed for these spines in Amargasaurus, with the 2019 description of Bajadasaurussuggesting that they could have served as passive defense against predators in both genera. The eye openings of Bajadasaurus were exposed in top view of the skull, possibly allowing the animal to look forward while feeding. Bajadasauruswas discovered in sedimentary rocks of the Bajada Colorada Formation, and its environment resembled a braided riversystem. It shared its environment with other dinosaurs including the sauropod Leinkupal and different theropods.