[dinosaur] Afromimus likely an abelisauroid theropod, not an ornithomimosaur

Ben Creisler
[email protected]

A new paper:

===========

Mauricio A. Cerroni, Federico L. Agnolin, Federico Brissón Egli & Fernando
E.Novas (2019)
The phylogenetic position of Afromimus tenerensis Sereno, 2017 and its
paleobiogeographical implications.
Journal of African Earth Sciences (advance online publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1016_j.jafrearsci.2019.103572&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=HI3Saob0lU63Up4mfyMwFfpu0QQgZpmUAyl_gAK8L-I&s=vjTj_ALQUbbxEKKzvF-AUn-C4PnqTeL0D0InVKmKMxw&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.sciencedirect.com_science_article_pii_S1464343X19302250&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=HI3Saob0lU63Up4mfyMwFfpu0QQgZpmUAyl_gAK8L-I&s=XArd7Ine4Hu1j24rSR5TBYSFy_yOlmBWaZja6goTF40&e= 

Highlights:

Afromimus shows affinities with the mostly Gondwanan clade Abelisauroidea
There is no incontrovertible evidence of ornithomimosaurs in Gondwanan
landmasses.
Gracile abelisauroids are probably undersampled and much more diverse that
previously thought.
Afromimus is still considered a valid taxon.

Abstract

Afromimus tenerensis Sereno, 2017 was recently described on the basis of an
incomplete skeleton coming from the Lower Cretaceous of Niger. The specimen
was originally identified as a basal ornithomimosaur. This clade of
dinosaurs was abundant in North America, Europe, and Asia, but virtually
unknown in Gondwana and thus its presence has deep palaebiogeographical
implications. However, a critical review of the homologies proposed in the
original description indicates instead that it may belong to
Abelisauroidea. It shares with the latter clade: tibia with fibular crest
continuous with the proximal end, large elliptical scar on posterior tibia,
relatively low ascending process of the astragalus which is subrectangular
in contour and is fused to fibula, a large iliofibular tubercle of fibula,
pedal phalanx lacking flexor tubercle, having a lateral bump, and "V"
shaped lateral furrows, distal caudal vertebrae with excavated fossae for
prezygapophyses, and chevrons anteroposteriorly narrow with fused pedicels.
Phylogenetic analysis here performed resulted in the inclusion of Afromimus
within Abelisauroidea, being probably related to the Noasauridae. Afromimus
shows several unique features sustaining that it is a valid taxon. The
present contribution indicates that there is no incontrovertible evidence
of ornithomimosaurs in Gondwana.


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