Identification of Kem Kem Claws

[Troodon]

I've had a number of questions raised via PMs and posts on Dinosaur claws from the Kem Kem Beds so here is a topic on that subject.

 

We know very little about their morphology and that is not unexpected because this region continues to mystify everyone and new discoveries are constantly changing our understanding of these dinosaurs.

 

Spinosaurid foot claws are the best understood but since we really do not know how many species exist, currently two, its difficult to assign the morphology shown below to any specific one.

 

Best described as Spinosaurid indet.

 

Note the dimple on the ventral surface

 

 

The claw shown below is generally accepted as a Spinosaurid hand claw but like the foot claw cannot assign it to a specific species.  Not aware of any publication showing this morphology in the Kem Kem but very similar to claws in other regions.

 

Best described as Spinossurid indet.

 

 

 

Abelsaurid foot claws..multiple species may exists do there may be some variation to this design 

 

Best described as Abelsaurid indet.

 

 

 

Foot Claw of a Carcharodontosaurid.  No Kem Kem claws have been described so like Spinosaurids hand claws we look at other regikns to compare agsinst.  Tyrannotitan is a Carcharodontosaurid from Argentina

 

Again there are multiple species described so best described as Carcharodontosaurid indet.

 

 

Possible 

 

 

Reference paper

 

http://www.academia.edu/1080746/Theropod_pedal_unguals_from_the_Late_Cretaceous_Cenomanian_of_Morocco_Africa

[Troodon]

Deltadromeus .. although claws are not described from this species we can look at a very close cousin for a comparative look.  

The Neovenatoridae from Argentina, Gualicho shinyae

 

Possible Foot Claw

 

 

Reference paper

https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0157793

 

 

This type of claw is one of the more common offered for sale, more often as a pterosaur claw.  I do not believe its one but an indeterminate Theropod but its really unknown.

 

 

Sauropod Claws are pretty rare and indeterminate what species they aes asdociated with.

  

 

[Bone guy]

Interesting stuff. This should be pinned. But I do have a question, why is there such a lack of research done on Kem Kem material? 

[doushantuo]

a wider dissemination of the literature might be fruitful:

2006NovasDallaVecchiaPais.pdf

(Title below)

unless I'm very much mistaken,some of the images above might be in that PDF

[Troodon]

23 minutes ago, Bone guy said:

Interesting stuff. This should be pinned. But I do have a question, why is there such a lack of research done on Kem Kem material? 

My guess is the lack of articulated skeletons.  Most of the material found is isolated so its difficult  to describe.

 

1 minute ago, doushantuo said:

a wider dissemination of the literature might be fruitful:

2006NovasDallaVecchiaPais.pdf

Same paper as posted above

[doushantuo]

I know,but not everyone might be able to succesfully access Academia

Disappointly enough :this

did NOT,alas,contain documentation of the claws of Tyrannotitan