Kem Kem Dromaeosaur?

[Dino Dad 81]

Hey all,

 

While I had my Kem Kem mystery teeth out (i.e., for my post from yesterday), I thought I'd see what you think on this tooth, which I find to be particularly unusual and interesting.

• Kem Kem is all I've got
• CH: 14.5mm
• CBL: 7.3mm
• CBW: 2.9mm
• Mesial serration density: about 5/mm
• Distal serration density: about 3/mm, extremely apically pointed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You!

[Troodon]

It's one of the indeterminate theropod morphology that exist in the KK.   Cannot tell you if its a Noasaurid, Dromaeosaurid or other.

[BirdsAreDinosaurs]

Cool little tooth! Until we know more, I believe it is one of those teeth that could potentially be dromaeosaurid (it does seem to have all the basic dromaeosaurid characteristcs). But like Troodon already pointed out, at this point there is no way to be sure. It even appears that small mesial denticles relative to the distal denticles might potentially just be a juvenile trait, just like DSDIs in tyrannosaurids apparantly decrease through ontogeny (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235078).

 

Even if it turns out to be something else, I think these little mystery teeth are an esssential part of every Kem Kem dinosaur tooth collection.

Edited July 26, 2022 by BirdsAreDinosaurs

[Dino Dad 81]

14 minutes ago, BirdsAreDinosaurs said:

It even appears that small mesial denticles relative to the distal denticles might potentially just be a juvenile trait, just like DSDIs in tyrannosaurids apparantly decrease through ontogeny (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235078).

 

I hadn't yet heard this and it's incredibly fascinating. Being aware that this is even a possibility will help me understand/estimate some teeth that are on-the-fence due to DSDIs. Even if it doesn't change any formal IDs, it's the investigative scientific process that's most of the fun and this is great to add to the mix.