New spinosaurid (Theropoda, Megalosauroidea) remains from the Arcillas de Morella Formation (upper Barremian) of Morella, Spain
Abstract
The record of spinosaurids currently known in Spain is scarce and represented mainly by isolated teeth and other fragmentary skeletal elements. Most of these previously described specimens have been tentatively attributed to Baryonyx, but there are some differences on dental morphology that may indicate the presence of more than one spinosaurid taxon. A set of postcranial osteological remains of theropod dinosaurs from the upper Barremian Arcillas de Morella Formation of Spain is here described. These elements show a combination of characters compatible with Spinosauridae. The specimens from Morella are interpreted as closely related to other Early and early Late Cretaceous spinosaurids, in particular to Baryonyx walkeri from the Barremian of England, Suchomimus tenerensis from the Aptian of Niger, and Sigilmassasaurus from the Cenomanian of Morocco. However, it was identified a combination of features distinct from other spinosaurids, supporting the presence of a distinct form, adding to the knowledge of the diversity and distribution of this clade of theropod dinosaurs in the Lower Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula.
- Publication:
-
Cretaceous Research
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.cretres.2018.08.006
- Bibcode:
- 2018CrRes..92..174M
- Keywords:
-
- Megalosauroidea;
- Spinosauridae;
- Early Cretaceous;
- Iberian Peninsula;
- Morella