Praefectus Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 The unnamed giant Tylosaur of the Moroccan Phosphates is revealed at last. The great and mighty Hainosaurus is a previously unrecognized macropredator present in the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Morocco. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365437927_First_Record_of_a_Tylosaurine_Mosasaur_from_the_Latest_Cretaceous_Phosphates_of_Morocco Authors: @Praefectus @BrennanThePaleoDude @pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon Abstract: The latest Cretaceous Phosphates of Morocco preserve the highest biodiversity of mosasaurid squamates anywhere in the world. Intensive sampling over the past century has uncovered at least ten genera and thirteen species from the mosasaur subgroups Halisauromorpha, Plioplatecarpinae, and Mosasaurinae. Notably missing from the assemblage are members of the macropredatory Tylosaurinae. The Tylosaurinae were globally rare in the Maastrichtian and their apparent absence has been previously explained by either collecting bias, ecological preference for deeper waters, or habitat restriction to higher paleolatitudes. Here, we describe a new tylosaurine mosasaurid, Hainosaurus boubker sp. nov., based on several partial skulls and isolated teeth originating from the Couche III layer of the Sidi Chennane Phosphate quarry near Oued Zem, Morocco. It is unique amongst tylosaurine mosasaurids in possessing blade-like teeth that are laterally compressed, encircled by enamel facets, and differentiated along the dental margin. The discovery of this new taxon in the Maastrichtian of Morocco is remarkable as it represents both the youngest species of Tylosaurinae and the first occurrence in North Africa. It has been a pleasure to work on this project and I am so happy to finally see it come to a conclusion. Tremendous thank you to Boubker Chaibi (Instagram @foussilouedzem) for discovering and donating the type material. Additionally, thanks to Carlos Espinosa (Instagram @carlost_sapiens) for bringing Hainosaurus to life. Funding for this project was provided by the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences’ Charles H. Sternberg Scholarship for vertebrate fossil research. Thank you very much the members of the AAPS. Map and Stratigraphic column of the Moroccan Phosphates Premaxilla of Hainosaurus boubker Premaxilla of Hainosaurus boubker Maxillae of Hainosaurus boubker Dentaries of Hainosaurus boubker Hainosaurus boubker right maxilla and premaxilla Anterior teeth Hainosaurus boubker Mid-marginal and posterior teeth H. boubker Discoverer and namesake of H. boubker, Boubker Chaibi (Instagram @foussilouedzem) Hainosaurus boubker by Carlos Espinosa (Instagram @carlost_sapiens) Reconstructed skull of H. boubker at the Sternberg Museum as part of the Sahara Sea Monster's traveling exhibit. By @jnoun11. Hainosaurus boubker skull sketch by Instagram @yoshisrgr8 “The Warden of the Cretaceous Seas” by Instagram @primal_art_saurus Hainosaurus vs. Thalassotitan 2 versions. No ammonites, ammonites. Memento mori by Twitter @ttorroo Hainosaurus vs. Thalassotitan Hainosaurus boubker by Instagram @icthyovenator by Instagram @primal_art_saurus Thanks for reading. 15 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Very cool. Congrats. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Awesome! Congrats on this publication! Keep up the good work I would say 1 2 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Congratulations, Trevor, Brennan, and Alexander! I am sure this was not an easy project to coordinate or research. Kudos, again, to you and your associates! 1 2 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Congratulations to all. Looks like an excellent publication and interesting project. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrennanThePaleoDude Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 It was an absolute honor working with you on this project! Your friendship and our journey together on naming this beast of a mosa has changed my life forever, and for that you have eternal gratitude 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared C Posted November 17, 2022 Share Posted November 17, 2022 Pretty inspiring. Again, great work 1 1 “Not only is the universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think” -Werner Heisenberg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon Posted November 17, 2022 Share Posted November 17, 2022 I echo Brennan's sentiments, Trevor, when I say this was an awesome project to have been involved in! It has been quite the ride, but it definitely paid off big! 3 'There's nothing like millions of years of really frustrating trial and error to give a species moral fibre and, in some cases, backbone' -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleoPastels Posted November 18, 2022 Share Posted November 18, 2022 Congrats to all of you guys, and a congratulations doesn't even feel like enough to say! Ive been so excited about the news for days now. Its news like this that inspires me to pursue my dreams and fills my thoughts with so much enthusiastic wonder and curiosity what else is out there to find. I bought one of the tees to support the project! I hope the chance come to where I can see the traveling exhibit. The name chosen is lovely. I love all of the fan art it already has on IG! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeB Posted November 19, 2022 Share Posted November 19, 2022 A new Moroccan Mosasaur Hainosaurus boubker is named here: First Record of a Tylosaurine Mosasaur from the Latest Cretaceous Phosphates of Morocco (scirp.org) This is the first Tylosaurine named from the Maastrichtian of Morocco and the last occurring species of Tylosaurine named from anywhere; it is also unusual in occurring in warm waters. The authors of the paper consider Hainosaurus to be a distinct genus separable from Tylosaurus with teeth adapted for cutting up prey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 19, 2022 Share Posted November 19, 2022 5 hours ago, LeeB said: A new Moroccan Mosasaur Hainosaurus boubker is named here: First Record of a Tylosaurine Mosasaur from the Latest Cretaceous Phosphates of Morocco (scirp.org) This is the first Tylosaurine named from the Maastrichtian of Morocco and the last occurring species of Tylosaurine named from anywhere; it is also unusual in occurring in warm waters. The authors of the paper consider Hainosaurus to be a distinct genus separable from Tylosaurus with teeth adapted for cutting up prey. TOPICS MERGED. 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD1991 Posted November 19, 2022 Share Posted November 19, 2022 I didn't know of this paper until now, but it indicates that the synonymy of Hainosaurus with Tylosaurus by Jimenez-Huidobro & Caldwell (2016) might be somewhat arbitrary due to the fact that a few tylosaurine species are known from the middle Campanian to Maastrichtian worldwide (the Taniwhasaurus type species T. oweni occurs in much younger deposits than other referred species of the genus, while Tylosaurus saskatchewanensis is the only Tylosaurus species from North America that comes from late Campanian deposits) and the possibility to shared dental and cranial characters between Tylosaurus and Hainosaurus being homoplastic for some derived tylosaurines. Indeed, Hornung et al. (2018) and Sachs et al. (2018) note a number of differences between the dentition of Tylosaurus and Hainosaurus that they regard as indicative of morphological diversity among Tylosaurus-like tylosaurines, suggesting that Hainosaurus may have been the most advanced derived tylosaurine. Hornung, J.J., Reich, M., and Frerichs, U., 2018. A mosasaur fauna (Squamata: Mosasauridae) from the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Hannover, northern Germany. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 42 (4): 543–559. doi:10.1080/03115518.2018.1434899. Sachs, S., Hornung, J.J., and Scheer, U., 2018. Mosasaurid and plesiosaurian remains from marginal facies of the lower Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Bottrop and Vaals formations of western Germany. Cretaceous Research 87: 358–367. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.05.026. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrennanThePaleoDude Posted November 21, 2022 Share Posted November 21, 2022 Here are some addition art pieces and infographics on Hainosaurus boubker! Hainosaurus boubker size chart! At a maximum of around 12 meters long H.boubker joins the ranks of some of the largest mosasaurs in the world! Hainosaurus art by carlost_sapiens on Instagram Hainosaurus boubker skull sketch by Instagram user yoshisrgr8 All Cartoony Hainosaurus art by primal_art_saurus on Instagram 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted November 29, 2022 Share Posted November 29, 2022 How absolutely marvelous. Good work, chaps. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenverEdge Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Thanks for your acknowledgement in your paper! Its been a while here so ill post my teeth. Also and more importantly congratz on the publication!!! These teeth are between 1.75 inches to 2.80 inches 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrennanThePaleoDude Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 More updates on Hainosaurus boubker, a talented artist Museum Miniatures has made several 3D models in different poses. These help bring the species to life and show angles not often portrayed in traditional art. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrennanThePaleoDude Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Life sized Hainosaurus boubker banner I have been using at fossil shows and paleo events! (Photo at the BC Rock and Gem Show) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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