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Is it possible to identify this Boulmane theropod tooth?


-Andy-

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Hi everyone, I have a theropod teeth that I need help identifying. This tooth first came from a reseller from Morocco in 2019 (before Talsint teeth flooded the market). He promises this came from a Boulmane digger, and calls it a Jurassic tooth. Irregardless of whether this is a Jurassic tooth or not, the reseller is reliable when it comes to locality

 

362737777_Boulmanetooth(13).thumb.jpg.bbe097857b7bee9b82e99483e74e3882.jpg

691859823_Boulmanetooth(8).thumb.jpg.a56035194a2fc2c90db43243db58f1dd.jpg

1561760253_Boulmanetooth(14).JPG.8c4029f60b0295ef2e0de76fd738e60b.JPG1276352881_Boulmanetooth(5).thumb.jpg.3f9407f76398c28dc0514673e80565eb.jpg

 

I have tried identifying this tooth but all my best guess is that it's a Megalosauridae indet. Here are its info:

 

CH: 26.1 mm

CBL: 13.7 mm

CBW: 8 mm

Distal denticle count: 13/5mm on mid line

Mesial denticle count: 17.5/5mm on mid line
 

Unique trait 1: Well visible transverse undulations

Unique trait 2: Mesial carina ends well above the cervix. Even accounting for the worn tip, it's half the length of the distal carina

Unique trait 3: Distal denticles significantly larger than mesial ones (DSDI > 1.2)

 

1156437540_Boulmanetooth(4).thumb.jpg.1033fba0cd81954dbf60431fee15b32b.jpg1172085846_Boulmanetooth(6).thumb.jpg.c9fb6e10888aabdf3ec76e3f7a7aabc9.jpg

 

I read "The distribution of dental features in non-avian theropod dinosaurs: Taxonomic potential, degree of homoplasy, and major evolutionary trends" but I am still unable to confidently assign a theropod family to this tooth. The lack of locality data from Boulmane further hurts the ID. Here are some of the relevant pages I highlighted from the paper:

 

Regarding denticle size:

213559113_denticlesize1.jpg.18c2ae2ecd135164e480d9c591f94407.jpg603333074_denticlesize2.jpg.7ef1fa2c516d450398bb51c8db39b807.jpg

 

Regarding the mesial carina terminating above the cervix:

756496557_mesialcarina1.jpg.1a0da4a24078f4dba508272c6cb32a9e.jpg

 

Regarding the transverse undulations:

984449226_enamelundulate.jpg.83a60cbbdd71e0634c88e7bc77bcd47f.jpg

 

A compilation of features about my tooth and the potential IDs for it:

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1900615238_featurescompile2.thumb.jpg.ec2c1cd29b6d84b435d0d46cdb56affc.jpg

 

If you have any insight regarding my tooth, I would love to hear it. Thank you

Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday!

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4 minutes ago, Troodon said:

Is this from the El Mers Group deposit?

 

My answer is a cautious yes

 

I can't prove it scientifically as I can't see gypsum crystals on it. However, the reseller did have fossil verts and teeth that definitely had gypsum crystals on them, and he claims this tooth comes from the same area

Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday!

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Well there are a number of features that support it being a Meglosaurid that include the mesial carina not reaching the cervix,  the wide transverse undulations which are common on some meglosaurine teeth, overall shape, position of carina and the density count.   The puzzling feature is the DSDI should be 1 or less, 1.2 is significant.   Anyway we know so little from this group and the actual locality it was found.  I would lean it toward it being a Meglosaurid not sure anything else in the mid-jurassic would fit.  Would be nice if you get C. Hendrickx opinion on this tooth given the DSDI.

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