[dinosaur] Lajasvenator, new carcharodontosaurid from Lower Cretaceous of Argentina

Ben Creisler
[email protected]

A new paper:


Lajasvenator ascheriae gen. et sp. nov.


Rodolfo A. Coria,  Philip J. Currie,  Francisco Ortega & Mattia A. Baiano
(2019)
An Early Cretaceous, medium-sized carcharodontosaurid theropod (Dinosauria,
Saurischia) from the Mulichinco Formation (upper Valanginian), Neuquén
Province, Patagonia, Argentina.
Cretaceous Research 104319 (advance online publication)
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__doi.org_10.1016_j.cretres.2019.104319&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=hc7XU5RTjrqksXIQGBYm4ZnhTA2Tycq8FRq7cR5hN-4&s=Y6CMf0iSwfaURGDnPAqtbRpCX3fSj2f-y5mLDyWaB3E&e= 
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.sciencedirect.com_science_article_pii_S0195667119303957&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=Ry_mO4IFaUmGof_Yl9MyZgecRCKHn5g4z1CYJgFW9SI&m=hc7XU5RTjrqksXIQGBYm4ZnhTA2Tycq8FRq7cR5hN-4&s=GZqHHnyIpLGCF_eWr1V3gCZNe1wVF2Gg5q1H_uV7VEo&e= 


Highlights

A new genus and species of carcharodontosaurid theropod (Lajasvenator
ascheriae) is described.
Lajasvenator is the oldest Cretaceous carcharodontosaurid record.
Lajasvenator represents the first Lower Cretaceous, South American
carcharodontosaurid.

Abstract

A new carcharodontosaurid taxon, Lajasvenator ascheriae gen. et sp. nov. is
described. The new taxon is based on two specimens: MLL-PV-Pv-005 is a
partial skeleton represented by a portion of the snout, partially
articulated presacral vertebral series, four articulated caudal vertebra
and fragments of the pelvic girdle; MLL-PV-Pv-007 includes the anterior
ends of both dentaries, a quadratojugal, and fragments of cervical
vertebrae, ribs and a possible tarsal bone. Lajasvenator is unique in
having anterior projections on cervical prezygapophyses, lip-like crests on
the lateral surfaces of cervical postzygapophyses, and bilobed anterior
processes on cervical ribs. Lajasvenator material was collected from the
terrestrial sandstones of the Valanginian Mulichinco Formation. It is the
oldest carcharodontosaurid record from South America. This medium sized
theropod was found associated with remains of the dicraeosaurid sauropod
Pilmatueia, indeterminate diplodocid remains, and a yet unidentified
iguanodontian-like ornithopod.