Discussion about the occurrence of the genus Aeolosaurus Powell 1987 (Dinosauria, Titanosauria) in the Upper Cretaceous of Brazil.

The records of Cretaceous Brazilian titanosaurs assigned to the Patagonian genus Aeolosaurus Powell (Dinosauria, Sauropoda, Titanosauria) are discussed. The fragmentary and isolated nature of many of the specimens and the incomplete knowledge of the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Brazilian titanosaurs generate uncertainty regarding the taxonomic assignments. Revision of the Brazilian specimens attributed to Aeolosaurus suggests that there are no characters indicating the presence of this Patagonian genus in the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. The conclusion that the relationships of these specimens were incorrectly recognized, points out that better taxonomic procedures, using consistent data, such as the presence of well-defi ned apomorphies, are needed for correct taxonomic designations, paleogeographic and paleobiostratigraphic inferences and the proposal of biochrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]