NEW ALLOSAUROID (THEROPODA, TETANURAE) REMAINS FROM THE SIERRA BARROSA FORMATION (MIDDLE CONIACIAN, UPPER CRETACEOUS), PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5710/PEAPA.25.10.2021.396Keywords:
Late Cretaceous, Neuquén Group, South America, Patagonia, Dinosauria, Allosauroidea, TibiaAbstract
The Late Cretaceous theropod fauna of South America is composed of Abelisauridae, Noasauridae, Spinosauridae, Carcharodontosauridae, Megaraptora, and Coelurosauria. These groups include mostly small (Noasauridae and Coelurosauria) and medium- to large-sized taxa (Carcharodontosauridae, Abelisauridae, and Megaraptora). Some of these lineages are predominantly Gondwanic (Abelisauridae, Noasauridae, Carcharodontosauridae, Megaraptora) and poorly represented in Laurasian landmasses. Particularly, several theropods have been reported from Patagonia, known either due to distinct anatomical features or due to their high degree of preservation, such as Carnotaurus, Skorpiovenator, Giganotosaurus, Megaraptor, Alvarezsaurus, and Unenlagia. here we describe a new incomplete tibia (MAU-PV-CM-653) from the Sierra Barrosa Formation (middle Coniacian, Upper Cretaceous), Patagonia, Argentina. MAU-PV-CM-653 shows an anteroposteriorly reduced cnemial crest that is strongly curved laterally. Finally, the tibia lacks a proximal extension of the fibular crest. These traits are reminiscent of tetanuran morphology and, together with the stratigraphic provenance of MAU-PV-CM-653, they allow us to assign it to an allosauroid theropod, thus improving the Allosauroidea global record for the middle Late Cretaceous.
References
Accarie, H., Beaudoin, B., Dejax, J., Friès, G., Michard, J. G., & Taquet, P. (1995). Discovery of a new Theropod dinosaur (Genusaurus sisteronis n.g., n. sp.) in the marine Albian of Sisteron (Alpes de haute-Provence, France) and the extension into the Lower Cretaceous of the Ceratosaur lineage. Comptes Rendus-Academie des Sciences, Paris serie 2 Sciences de la Terre et des Planetes, fascicule A, 320, 327–334.
Aranciaga Rolando, M. A., Méndez, A., Canale, J. I., & Novas, F. E. (2021). Osteology of Aerosteon riocoloradensis (Sereno et al. 2008) a large megaraptoran (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina. Historical Biology, DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2021.1910816
Aranciaga Rolando, M. A., Novas, F. E., & Agnolín, F. L. (2019). A reanalysis of Murusraptor barrosaensis Coria & Currie (2016) affords new evidence about the phylogenetical relationships of Megaraptora. Cretaceous Research, 99, 104–127.
Azuma, Y., & Currie, P. J. (2000). A new carnosaur (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Japan. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 37(12), 1735–1753.
Benson, R. B., Carrano, M. T., & Brusatte, S. L. (2010). A new clade of archaic large-bodied predatory dinosaurs (Theropoda, Allosauroidea) that survived to the latest Mesozoic. Naturwissenschaften, 97(1), 71–78.
Britt, B. B. (1991). Theropods of Dry Mesa Quarry (Morrison Formation, late Jurassic), Colorado, with emphasis on the osteology of Torvosaurus tanneri. Brigham Young University Geology Studies, 37, 1–72.
Brochu, C. A. (2003). Osteology of Tyrannosaurus rex: insights from a nearly complete skeleton and high-resolution computed tomographic analysis of the skull. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 22(4), 1–138.
Brusatte, S. L., Benson, R. B. J., Chure, D. J., Xu, X., Sullivan, C., & Hone, D. W. (2009). The first definitive carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from Asia and the delayed ascent of tyrannosaurids. Naturwissenschaften, 96(9), 1051–1058.
Brusatte, S. L., Benson, R. B. J., & Hutt, S. (2008). The osteology of Neovenator salerii (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Wealden Group (Barremian) of the Isle of Wight. Palaeontographical Society Monographs, 162(631), 1–166.
Calvo, J. O., Porfiri, J. D., & Kellner, A. W. (2004a). On a new maniraptoran dinosaur (Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Arquivos do Museu Nacional, 62(4), 549–566.
Calvo, J. O., Rubilar-Rogers, D., & Moreno, K. (2004b). A new Abelisauridae (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from northwest Patagonia. Ameghiniana, 41(4), 555–563.
Canale, J. I., Apesteguía, S., Gallina, P. A., Gianechini, F. A., & Haluza, A. (2017). The oldest theropods from the Neuquén Basin: Predatory dinosaur diversity from the Bajada Colorada Formation (Lower Cretaceous: Berriasian–Valanginian), Neuquén, Argentina. Cretaceous Research, 71, 63–78.
Canale, J. I., Scanferla, C. A., Agnolín, F. L., & Novas, F. E. (2009). New carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of NW Patagonia and the evolution of abelisaurid theropods. Naturwissenschaften, 96(3), 409–414.
Canudo, J. I., Salgado, L., Barco, J. L., Bolatti, R., & Ruiz-Omeñaca, J. I. (2004). Dientes de dinosaurios terópodos y saurópodos de la Formación Cerro Lisandro (Cenomaniense superior–Turoniense inferior, Cretácico Superior) en Río Negro (Argentina). Geotemas, 1(68), 31–34.
Carrano, M. T., Benson, R. B., & Sampson, S. D. (2012). The phylogeny of Tetanurae (Dinosauria, Theropoda). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 10(2), 211–300.
Carrano, M. T., & Hutchinson, J. R. (2002). Pelvic and hindlimb musculature of Tyrannosaurus rex (Dinosauria, Theropoda). Journal of Morphology, 253(3), 207–228.
Carrano, M. T., & Sampson, S. D. (2008). The phylogeny of Ceratosauria (Dinosauria, Theropoda). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 6(2), 183–236.
Casal, G. A., Ibiricu, L. M., Álvarez, B. N., Luna, M., & Martínez, R. D. (2019). Nuevos materiales de Megaraptoridae del Maastrichtiano de la Formación Lago Colhué huapi, Grupo Chubut, Patagonia Argentina. Publicación Electrónica de la Asociación Paleontológica Argentina, Suplemento Resúmenes, 20(1), R69.
Coria, R. A. (2001). New theropod from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. In D. h. Tanke & K. Carpenter (Eds.), Mesozoic vertebrate life (pp. 3–9). Bloomington & Indianapolis, Indiana University Press.
Coria, R. A. (2007). Non avian theropods. In Z. Gasparini, L. Salgado, & R. A. Coria (Eds.), Patagonian Mesozoic reptiles (pp. 229–256). Bloomington & Indianapolis, Indiana University Press.
Coria, R. A., Chiappe, L. M., & Dingus, L. (2002). A new close relative of Carnotaurus sastrei Bonaparte 1985 (Theropoda, Abelisauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 22(2), 460–465.
Coria, R. A., & Currie, P. J. (2016). A new megaraptoran dinosaur (Dinosauria, Theropoda, Megaraptoridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. PLoS One, 11(7), e0157973.
Currie, P. J., & Zhao, X. J. (1993). A new large theropod (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Jurassic of Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 30, 2037–2081.
Delcourt, R., & Grillo, O. N. (2018). Reassessment of a fragmentary maxilla attributed to Carcharodontosauridae from Presidente Prudente Formation, Brazil. Cretaceous Research, 84, 515–524.
Garrido, A. (2010). Estratigrafía del Grupo Neuquén, Cretácico Superior de la Cuenca Neuquina (Argentina): nueva propuesta de ordenamiento litoestratigráfico. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales nueva serie, 12(2), 121–177.
Gilmore, C. W. (1920). Osteology of the carnivorous Dinosauria in the United States National Museum, with special reference to the genera Antrodemus (Allosaurus) and Ceratosaurus. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 110, 1–154.
Ibiricu, L. M., Baiano, M. A., Martínez, R. D., Álvarez, B. N., Lamanna, M. C., & Casal, G. A. (2021). A detailed osteological description of Xenotarsosaurus bonapartei (Theropoda, Abelisauridae): implications for abelisauroid phylogeny. Cretaceous Research, 104829.
Ibiricu, L. M., Casal, G. A., Martínez, R. D., Álvarez, B. N., & Poropat, S. F. (2020). New materials and an overview of Cretaceous vertebrates from the Chubut Group of the Golfo San Jorge Basin, central Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of South America Earth Sciences, 98, 102460.
Kellner, A. W., Azevedo, S. A., Machado, E. B., Carvalho, L. B. D., & Henriques, D. D. (2011). A new dinosaur (Theropoda, Spinosauridae) from the Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Alcântara Formation, Cajual Island, Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 83, 99–108.
Lamanna, M. C., Casal, G. A., Martínez, R. D., & Ibiricu, L. M. (2020). Megaraptorid (Theropoda, Tetanurae) Partial Skeletons from the Upper Cretaceous Bajo Barreal Formation of Central Patagonia, Argentina: Implications for the Evolution of Large Body Size in Gondwanan Megaraptorans. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 86(3), 255–294.
Leanza, H. A., Apesteguía, S., Novas, F. E., & de la Fuente, M. S. (2004). Cretaceous terrestrial beds from the Neuquén Basin (Argentina) and their tetrapod assemblages. Cretaceous Research, 25(1), 61–87.
Machado, E. B., Campos, D. D. A., Calvo, J. O., & Kellner, A. W. (2013). A new Abelisauroid from the Upper Cretaceous of Brazil. Revista mexicana de ciencias geológicas, 30(2), 446–452.
Madsen, J. H. (1976). Allosaurus fragilis: a revised osteology. Utah Geological and Mineral Survey Bulletin, 109, 1–163.
Madsen, J. H., & Welles, S. P. (2000). Ceratosaurus (Dinosauria, Theropoda): a revised osteology. Utah Geological Survey, 1–80.
Malafaia, E., Gasulla, J. M., Escaso, F., Narvaéz, I., & Ortega, F. (2020a). An update of the spinosaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) fossil record from the Lower Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula: distribution, diversity, and evolutionary history. Journal of Iberian Geology, 46(4), 431–444.
Malafaia, E., Gasulla, J. M., Escaso, F., Narváez, I., Sanz, J. L., & Ortega, F. (2020b). A new spinosaurid theropod (Dinosauria, Megalosauroidea) from the upper Barremian of Vallibona, Spain: Implications for spinosaurid diversity in the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula. Cretaceous Research, 106, 104221.
Marsh, A. D., & Rowe, T. B. (2020). A comprehensive anatomical and phylogenetic evaluation of Dilophosaurus wetherilli (Dinosauria, Theropoda) with descriptions of new specimens from the Kayenta Formation of northern Arizona. Journal of Paleontology, 94(78), 1–103.
Martinelli, A. G., Borges Ribeiro, L. C., Méndez, A. H., Neto, F. M., Cavellani, C. L., Felix, E., da Fonseca Ferraz, M. L., & Antunes Teixeira, V. D. P. (2013). Insight on the theropod fauna from the Uberaba Formation (Bauru Group), Minas Gerais State: new megaraptoran specimen from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 119(2), 205–214.
Martínez, R. D., Giménez, O., Rodríguez, J., & Bochatey, G. (1986). Xenotarsosaurus bonapartei nov. gen. et sp. (Carnosauria, Abelisauridae), un nuevo Theropoda de la Formación Bajo Barreal. 4º Congreso Argentino de Paleontología y Bioestratigrafía (pp. 23–31). Mendoza.
Méndez, A. H., Novas, F. E., & Iori, F. V. (2012). First record of Megaraptora (Theropoda, Neovenatoridae) from Brazil. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 11(4), 251–256.
Motta, M. J., Agnolín, F. L., Brissón Egli, F., & Novas, F. E. (2020). New theropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia sheds light on the paravian radiation in Gondwana. The Science of Nature, 107(3), 1–8.
Motta, M. J., Aranciaga Rolando, A. M., Rozadilla, S., Agnolín, F. L., Chimento, N. R., Brissón Egli, F., & Novas, F. E. (2016). New theropod fauna from the Upper Cretaceous (huincul Formation) of northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 71, 231–253.
Novas, F. E. (1997). Anatomy of Patagonykus puertai (Theropoda, Avialae, Alvarezsauridae), from the late cretaceous of Patagonia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 17(1), 137–166.
Novas, F. E. (1998). Megaraptor namunhuaiquii, gen. et sp. nov., a large-clawed, Late Cretaceous theropod from Patagonia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18(1), 4–9.
Novas, F. E. (2009). The Age of Dinosaurs in South America. Indiana University Press, Indiana.
Novas, F. E., Agnolín, F. L., Ezcurra, M. D., Porfiri, J., & Canale, J. I. (2013). Evolution of the carnivorous dinosaurs during the Cretaceous: the evidence from Patagonia. Cretaceous Research, 45, 174–215.
Novas, F. E., Agnolín, F. L., Rozadilla, S., Aranciaga Rolando, A. M., Brissón Egli, F., Motta, M. J., Cerroni, M., Ezcurra, M. D., Martinelli, A. G., D’Angelo, J. S., Álvarez-herrera, G., Gentil, A. R., Bogan, S., Chimento, N. R., García-Marsà, J. A., Lo Coco, G., Miquel, S. E., Brito, F. F., Vera, E. I., Pérez Loinaze, V. S., Fernández, M. S., & Salgado, L. (2019).
Paleontological discoveries in the Chorrillo Formation (upper Campanian–lower Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous), Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, 21, 217–293.
Novas, F. E., Ezcurra, M. D., & Lecuona, A. (2008). Orkoraptor burkei nov. gen. et sp., a large theropod from the Maastrichtian Pari Aike Formation, Southern Patagonia, Argentina. Cretaceous Research, 29(3), 468–480.
Novas, F. E., & Pol, D. (2005). New evidence on deinonychosaurian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature, 433(7028), 858–861.
Novas, F. E., & Puerta, P. F. (1997). New evidence concerning avian origins from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature, 387(6631), 390–392.
Paulina-Carabajal, A., & Coria, R. A. (2015). An unusual theropod frontal from the Upper Cretaceous of north Patagonia. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 39(4), 514–518.
Pol, D., & Rauhut, O. W. M. (2012). A Middle Jurassic abelisaurid from Patagonia and the early diversification of theropod dinosaurs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279(1741), 3170–3175.
Porfiri, J. D., Novas, F. E., Calvo, J. O., Agnolín, F. L., Ezcurra, M. D., & Cerda, I. A. (2014). Juvenile specimen of Megaraptor (Dinosauria, Theropoda) sheds light about tyrannosauroid radiation. Cretaceous Research, 51, 35–55.
Porfiri, J. D., Valieri, R. D. J., Santos, D. D., & Lamanna, M. C. (2018). A new megaraptoran theropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Bajo de la Carpa Formation of northwestern Patagonia. Cretaceous Research, 89, 302–319.
Rauhut, O. W. M. (2003). The interrelationships and evolution of basal theropod dinosaurs. Special Papers in Paleontology, 69, 1–213.
Rauhut, O. W. M. (2005a). Post-cranial remains of ‘coelurosaurs’ (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Late Jurassic of Tanzania. Geological Magazine, 142(1), 97–107.
Rauhut, O. W. M. (2005b). Osteology and relationships of a new theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Patagonia. Palaeontology, 48(1), 87–110.
Rauhut, O. W. M., Huebner, T. R., & Lanser, K. P. (2016). A new megalosaurid theropod dinosaur from the late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of north-western Germany: Implications for theropod evolution and faunal turnover in the Jurassic. Palaeontologia Electronica, 19, 1–65.
Rauhut, O. W. M., & Pol, D. (2019). Probable basal allosauroid from the early Middle Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Formation of Argentina highlights phylogenetic uncertainty in tetanuran theropod dinosaurs. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1–9.
Samathi, A., Chanthasit, P., & Sander, P. M. (2019). Two new basal coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of Thailand. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 64(2), 239–260.
Sereno, P. C., Martínez, R. N., Wilson, J. A., Varricchio, D. J., Alcober, O. A., & Larsson, H. C. (2008). Evidence for avian intrathoracic air sacs in a new predatory dinosaur from Argentina. PLoS one, 3(9), e3303.
White, M. A., Benson, R. B., Tischler, T. R., Hocknull, S. A., Cook, A. G., Barnes, D. G., Poropat, S. F., Wooldridge, S. J., Sloan, T., Sinapius, H. K., & Elliot, D. A. (2013). New Australovenator hind limb elements pertaining to the holotype reveal the most complete neovenatorid leg. PloS one, 8(7), e68649.
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Mattia Antonio Baiano, Leonardo Sebastián Filippi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a CC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
