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The cervical vertebral series of Carnotaurus sastrei from Argentina is described in detail, and compared with Majungasaurus crenatissimus from Madagascar, both Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) in age. Notable differences in the morphology of the cervical vertebrae, especially in the shape and development of the epipophysis and the neural spines, are observed between these two genera. These differences show a neck much more robust in Carnotaurus than in Majungasaurus, may be linked to the evolution of the clade in relation to the divergence time since the two genera shared a common ancestor, and functionally may relate to the feeding function associated to the extreme reduction of the forelimbs.
Abelisaurid theropods were one of the most diverse groups of predatory dinosaurs in Gondwana during the Cretaceous. The group is characterized by a tall, wide skull and robust cervical region. This morphology is thought to have facilitated specialized feeding behaviors such as prolonged contact with prey. The Late Cretaceous abelisaurid Majungasaurus crenatissimus typifies this abelisaurid cranial morphotype. Recent fossil discoveries of this species include a partial growth series that allows for the first time an investigation of ontogenetic variation in cranial morphology in a representative abelisaurid. Herein we examine growth trajectories in the shape of individual cranial bones and articulated skulls of Majungasaurus using geometric morphometrics. Several major changes in skull shape were observed through ontogeny, including an increase in the height of the jugal, postorbital, and quadratojugal, an increase in the extent of the contacts between bones, and a decrease in the circumference of the orbit. The skull transitions from relatively short in the smallest individual to tall and robust in large adults, as is seen in other theropods. Such morphological change during ontogeny would likely have resulted in different biomechanical properties and feeding behaviors between small and large individuals. These findings provide a post-hatching developmental framework for understanding the evolution of the distinctive tall skull morphology seen in abelisaurids and other large-sized theropod dinosaurs.
We report the discovery of basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the mid Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian, ca. 112 Ma) Elrhaz Formation of the Niger Republic. The abelisaurid, Kryptops palaios gen. et sp. nov., is represented by a single individual preserving the maxilla, pelvic girdle, vertebrae and ribs. Several features, including a maxilla textured externally by impressed vascular grooves and a narrow antorbital fossa, clearly place Kryptops palaios within Abelisauridae as its oldest known member. The carcharodontosaurid, Eocarcharia dinops gen. et sp. nov., is represented by several cranial bones and isolated teeth. Phylogenetic analysis places it as a basal carcharodontosaurid, similar to Acrocanthosaurus and less derived than Carcharodontosaurus and Giganotosaurus. The discovery of these taxa suggests that large body size and many of the derived cranial features of abelisaurids and carcharodontosaurids had already evolved by the mid Cretaceous. The presence of a close relative of the North American genus Acrocanthosaurus on Africa suggests that carcharodontosaurids had already achieved a trans−Tethyan distribution by the mid Cretaceous.
The latest Cretaceous (Campanian?–Maastrichtian) Maevarano Formation of the Mahajanga Basin, Madagascar, preserves one of the most diverse fossil vertebrate faunas of the Gondwanan landmasses. Over 180 isolated theropod teeth recovered from that formation were studied in order to document theropod diversity in the Madagascar insular setting. Tooth morphology and characteristics of the Maevarano teeth were compared to those of known theropod teeth for identification, including the Malagasy non−avian theropods Majungatholus atopus and Masiakasaurus knopfleri. Tooth and denticle morphologies permit the recognition of five tooth morphotypes: three morphotypes are referable to Majungatholus atopus based on variation in tooth morphology observed in teeth preserved in situ in the jaws of two specimens, and one morphotype is ascribable to Masiakasaurus knopfleri. Teeth pertaining to the fifth morphotype differ from other morphotypes in the size and orientation of the denticles, shape and orientation of blood grooves, and in general tooth morphology. Statistical analyses reveal that the fifth Maevarano tooth morphotype is similar to dromaeosaurid teeth, suggesting that a yet unknown theropod taxon inhabited Madagascar during the latest Cretaceous. This morphotype represents the first evidence of the possible presence of a dromaeosaurid in Madagascar and supports the theory that dromaeosaurids were present throughout Pangaea before the break−up of the supercontinent during the Late Jurassic and had colonized Madagascar before its separation from Africa during the Early Cretaceous.
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