SAUROPOD CAUDAL VERTEBRAE FROM MALAWI, AFRICA

The morphology of distal caudal vertebrae from Malawi indicates the presence of at least two sauropod taxa : Malawisaurus and an undesignated morph 1,both titanosaurians. Malawisaurus is a basal titanosaurian with strongly procoelous proximal caudal vertebrae but platycoelous medial and distal caudal vertebrae. In Malawisaurus, the centra are rounded in cross section, ventrally concave in lateral view, and the proximal and medial caudals have well developed chevron articular facets. The undesignated titanosaurian has procoelous medial or distal caudal vertebrae. A third sauropod taxon might be represented by undesignated morph 2. The centra of undesignated morph 2 are rectangular, nearly flat ventrally in lateral view, have nearly flat ventral and lateral surfaces, and have poorly developed chevron articular facets.