A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), Wyoming

A well-preserved left theropod metatarsal I from the Campanian Mesaverde Formation of Wyoming is described and identified as belonging to a caenagnathid, representing the first occurrence of this clade from the formation. The specimen is unique in being relatively small, but featuring a suite of cha...

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Main Authors: Chan-gyu Yun, Gregory G. Funston
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta Libraries 2021-11-01
Series:Vertebrate Anatomy, Morphology, Palaeontology
Online Access:https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/29376
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author Chan-gyu Yun
Gregory G. Funston
author_facet Chan-gyu Yun
Gregory G. Funston
author_sort Chan-gyu Yun
collection DOAJ
description A well-preserved left theropod metatarsal I from the Campanian Mesaverde Formation of Wyoming is described and identified as belonging to a caenagnathid, representing the first occurrence of this clade from the formation. The specimen is unique in being relatively small, but featuring a suite of characters (triangular shaft, less constriction between the shaft and the distal condyle, spherical distal condyle) that are seen in larger examples of Caenagnathidae such as Anzu wyliei or “Macrophalangia canadensis”. This suggests that the previously-observed differences in metatarsal I between small and large caenagnathids are not solely the result of allometry, but may represent phylogenetically informative variation. Although limited, this new specimen lends some support to the hypothesis that “Macrophalangia canadensis” does not represent a large Chirostenotes pergracilis. Furthermore, the specimen is important in establishing the presence of caenagnathids within the Mesaverde Formation fauna, in which theropod remains are poorly known.
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spelling doaj.art-a944fdbdab004d21a61c6878c502b5e32022-12-21T23:27:10ZengUniversity of Alberta LibrariesVertebrate Anatomy, Morphology, Palaeontology2292-13892021-11-019110.18435/vamp29376A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), WyomingChan-gyu Yun0Gregory G. Funston1Biological Sciences, Inha UniversitySchool of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom A well-preserved left theropod metatarsal I from the Campanian Mesaverde Formation of Wyoming is described and identified as belonging to a caenagnathid, representing the first occurrence of this clade from the formation. The specimen is unique in being relatively small, but featuring a suite of characters (triangular shaft, less constriction between the shaft and the distal condyle, spherical distal condyle) that are seen in larger examples of Caenagnathidae such as Anzu wyliei or “Macrophalangia canadensis”. This suggests that the previously-observed differences in metatarsal I between small and large caenagnathids are not solely the result of allometry, but may represent phylogenetically informative variation. Although limited, this new specimen lends some support to the hypothesis that “Macrophalangia canadensis” does not represent a large Chirostenotes pergracilis. Furthermore, the specimen is important in establishing the presence of caenagnathids within the Mesaverde Formation fauna, in which theropod remains are poorly known.https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/29376
spellingShingle Chan-gyu Yun
Gregory G. Funston
A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), Wyoming
Vertebrate Anatomy, Morphology, Palaeontology
title A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), Wyoming
title_full A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), Wyoming
title_fullStr A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), Wyoming
title_full_unstemmed A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), Wyoming
title_short A caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the Mesaverde Formation (Campanian), Wyoming
title_sort caenagnathid oviraptorosaur metatarsal from the mesaverde formation campanian wyoming
url https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/29376
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