A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid Diversity
Late Cretaceous marine ecosystems saw a major adaptive radiation of mosasaurids, which evolved highly disparate jaw and tooth morphologies to feed on different prey. A striking pattern seen in mosasaurids was a high diversity of durophagous forms. Durophagy likely evolved several times independently...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Nicholas R. Longrich Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola Nour-Eddine Jalil Nathalie Bardet |
| author_facet | Nicholas R. Longrich Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola Nour-Eddine Jalil Nathalie Bardet |
| author_sort | Nicholas R. Longrich |
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| description | Late Cretaceous marine ecosystems saw a major adaptive radiation of mosasaurids, which evolved highly disparate jaw and tooth morphologies to feed on different prey. A striking pattern seen in mosasaurids was a high diversity of durophagous forms. Durophagy likely evolved several times independently in the mosasaurine genera <i>Globidens</i>, <i>Prognathodon</i>, and <i>Carinodens</i>. <i>Carinodens</i> is unusual in having low, rectangular, laterally compressed teeth. The genus is known from around the world, with the species <i>Carinodens minalmamar</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>belgicus</i> previously reported from the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco. Here, we report a new species of <i>Carinodens</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>acrodon</i>, from the same Maastrichtian Phosphates. It is characterized by teeth with tall crowns, triangular apices, and broad bases. Many of the diagnostic features of this species appear to be plesiomorphies, suggesting the persistence of a primitive species of <i>Carinodens</i> into the latest Maastrichtian alongside the more derived <i>C</i>. <i>minalmamar</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>belgicus</i>. The new species contributes to an emerging pattern of mosasaurid hyperdiversity in the late Maastrichtian of Morocco. A revised faunal list, including stratigraphic range extensions of <i>Khinjaria</i> and <i>Stelladens</i> into the latest Maastrichtian of upper Couche III of the Phosphates of Morocco, suggests at least 16 species of mosasauroid coexisted here. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-7a184de98de34968ba8cce9a04a35ab22025-01-24T13:29:24ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182024-12-011712510.3390/d17010025A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid DiversityNicholas R. Longrich0Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola1Nour-Eddine Jalil2Nathalie Bardet3Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UKDepartamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Apartado 644, 48080 Bilbao, SpainCR2P Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie—Paris, CNRS/MNHN/SU, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP 38, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, FranceCR2P Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie—Paris, CNRS/MNHN/SU, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP 38, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, FranceLate Cretaceous marine ecosystems saw a major adaptive radiation of mosasaurids, which evolved highly disparate jaw and tooth morphologies to feed on different prey. A striking pattern seen in mosasaurids was a high diversity of durophagous forms. Durophagy likely evolved several times independently in the mosasaurine genera <i>Globidens</i>, <i>Prognathodon</i>, and <i>Carinodens</i>. <i>Carinodens</i> is unusual in having low, rectangular, laterally compressed teeth. The genus is known from around the world, with the species <i>Carinodens minalmamar</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>belgicus</i> previously reported from the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco. Here, we report a new species of <i>Carinodens</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>acrodon</i>, from the same Maastrichtian Phosphates. It is characterized by teeth with tall crowns, triangular apices, and broad bases. Many of the diagnostic features of this species appear to be plesiomorphies, suggesting the persistence of a primitive species of <i>Carinodens</i> into the latest Maastrichtian alongside the more derived <i>C</i>. <i>minalmamar</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>belgicus</i>. The new species contributes to an emerging pattern of mosasaurid hyperdiversity in the late Maastrichtian of Morocco. A revised faunal list, including stratigraphic range extensions of <i>Khinjaria</i> and <i>Stelladens</i> into the latest Maastrichtian of upper Couche III of the Phosphates of Morocco, suggests at least 16 species of mosasauroid coexisted here.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/1/25Late CretaceousMaastrichtianMosasauridae<i>Carinodens</i> |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas R. Longrich Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola Nour-Eddine Jalil Nathalie Bardet A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid Diversity Diversity Late Cretaceous Maastrichtian Mosasauridae <i>Carinodens</i> |
| title | A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid Diversity |
| title_full | A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid Diversity |
| title_fullStr | A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid Diversity |
| title_full_unstemmed | A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid Diversity |
| title_short | A New Species of the Durophagous Mosasaurid <i>Carinodens</i> from the Late Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco and Implications for Maastrichtian Mosasaurid Diversity |
| title_sort | new species of the durophagous mosasaurid i carinodens i from the late maastrichtian phosphates of morocco and implications for maastrichtian mosasaurid diversity |
| topic | Late Cretaceous Maastrichtian Mosasauridae <i>Carinodens</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/1/25 |
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