............................................................................................................ 7 Introduction....................................................................................................... 8 Methods........................................................................................................... 10 Data Collection .....................................

BACKGROUND The early evolution of sauropod dinosaurs is poorly understood because of a highly incomplete fossil record. New discoveries of Early and Middle Jurassic sauropods have a great potential to lead to a better understanding of early sauropod evolution and to reevaluate the patterns of sauropod diversification. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A new sauropod from the Middle Jurassic of Niger, Spinop...