| Vahiny | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Sauropoda |
| Clade: | †Macronaria |
| Clade: | †Titanosauria |
| Clade: | †Colossosauria |
| Genus: | †Vahiny Curry Rogers & Wilson,2014 |
| Type species | |
| †Vahiny depereti Curry Rogers & Wilson, 2014 | |
Vahiny (meaning "traveller" inMalagasy[1]) is anextinctgenus oftitanosaursauropoddinosaur known from theLate Cretaceous of theMaevarano Formation, northwesternMadagascar. It contains a single species,Vahiny depereti.[1]
Vahiny was first described and named byKristina Curry Rogers and Jeffrey A. Wilson in2014 and thetype species isVahiny depereti. It is known solely from theLate CretaceousMaevarano Formation located in northwesternMadagascar, together with the more commontitanosaur,Rapetosaurus krausei.Rapetosaurus is the most common dinosaur in its fauna and is known from hundreds of bones, including multiple partial skeletons and skulls, while other taxa are extremely rare, includingVahiny identified from a partialbraincase.Vahiny is distinguished from other titanosaurs by characteristics of its braincase, including the basal tubera, basipterygoid processes, parasphenoid and cranial nerve foramina. Differences in the braincases ofVahiny andRapetosaurus indicate that they are not closely related to one another.Vahiny is most similar toJainosaurus from the Late Cretaceous ofIndia, and bears similarities to the South American taxaMuyelensaurus andPitekunsaurus.[1]
Vahiny since lived in a late cretaceous environment of Madagascar; it represented semi-arid coastal floodplain environment. This area experienced distinct wet and dry seasons. The ecosystem was rich with diverse wildlife, including other dinosaurs such as the predatory theropodMajungasaurus the small theropodMasiakasaurus, but also, another titanosaur,Rapetosaurus.[2] The environment also supported various crocodylomorphs (ancient crocodile relatives) likeMahajangasuchus and the pug-nosedSimosuchus, as well as frogs like the giantBeelzebufo, snakes, and early birds.[3]
As a sauropod,Vahiny was a herbivore. It would have used its long neck to browse on vegetation, possibly feeding on a variety of plants available in its habitat, such as conifers, cycads, and early flowering plants. Its large size would have required it to consume vast quantities of plant matter daily to sustain itself.[4]
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