PFOOLEY Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 A new spinosaurid dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous of Cinctorres (Spain) Abstract A new spinosaurid genus and species is described based on the right maxilla and five caudal vertebrae of a single specimen from the Arcillas de Morella Formation (Early Cretaceous) at the locality of Cinctorres (Castellón, Spain). Protathlitis cinctorrensis gen. et sp. nov. is diagnosed by one autapomorphic feature as well as by a unique combination of characters. The autapomorphy includes a subcircular depression in the anterior corner of the antorbital fossa in the maxilla. The new Iberian species is recovered as a basal baryonychine. The recognition of Protathlitis cinctorrensis gen. et sp. nov. as the first baryonychine dinosaur species identified from the Arcillas de Morella Formation (late Barremian) from the same time as Vallibonavenatrix cani, the first spinosaurine dinosaur from the same formation in the Morella subbasin (Maestrat Basin, eastern Spain), indicates that the Iberian Peninsula was home to a highly diverse assemblage of medium-to-large bodied spinosaurid dinosaurs. It seems that spinosaurids appeared during the Early Cretaceous in Laurasia, with the two subfamilies occupying the western part of Europe during this period. Later, during the Barremian–Aptian, they migrated to Africa and Asia, where they would diversify. In Europe, baryonychines were dominant, while in Africa, spinosaurines were most abundant. s41598-023-33418-2.pdf 2 1 "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 THX,P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 Saw this drop yesterday and already reading concern by some if its valid based on 4 vertebrae and one very poor jaw fragment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gms Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 The material is very fragmentary, the maxilary fragment is poorly preserved and somewhat distorted. Possible "nomen dubium" or a synonymy of Vallibonavenatrix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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