First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt
Numerous non-avian theropod dinosaur fossils have been reported from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt, but unambiguous materials of Abelisauridae have yet to be documented. Here we report Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center...
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The Royal Society
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220106 |
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| author | Belal S. Salem Matthew C. Lamanna Patrick M. O'Connor Gamal M. El-Qot Fatma Shaker Wael A. Thabet Sanaa El-Sayed Hesham M. Sallam |
| author_facet | Belal S. Salem Matthew C. Lamanna Patrick M. O'Connor Gamal M. El-Qot Fatma Shaker Wael A. Thabet Sanaa El-Sayed Hesham M. Sallam |
| author_sort | Belal S. Salem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerous non-avian theropod dinosaur fossils have been reported from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt, but unambiguous materials of Abelisauridae have yet to be documented. Here we report Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP) specimen 477, an isolated, well-preserved tenth cervical vertebra of a medium-sized abelisaurid from the Bahariya Formation. The new vertebra shows affinities with those of other Upper Cretaceous abelisaurids from Madagascar and South America, such as Majungasaurus crenatissimus, Carnotaurus sastrei, Viavenator exxoni and a generically indeterminate Patagonian specimen (Museo Padre Molina specimen 99). Phylogenetic analysis recovers the Bahariya form within Abelisauridae, either in a polytomy of all included abelisaurids (strict consensus tree) or as an early branching member of the otherwise South American clade Brachyrostra (50% majority rule consensus tree). MUVP 477, therefore, represents the first confirmed abelisaurid fossil from the Bahariya Formation and the oldest definitive record of the clade from Egypt and northeastern Africa more generally. The new vertebra demonstrates the wide geographical distribution of Abelisauridae across North Africa during the middle Cretaceous and augments the already extraordinarily diverse large-bodied theropod assemblage of the Bahariya Formation, a record that also includes representatives of Spinosauridae, Carcharodontosauridae and Bahariasauridae. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:28:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab5e667d9aae4a809f6ad1c571a264e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:28:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab5e667d9aae4a809f6ad1c571a264e82023-04-28T10:52:23ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032022-06-019610.1098/rsos.220106First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of EgyptBelal S. Salem0Matthew C. Lamanna1Patrick M. O'Connor2Gamal M. El-Qot3Fatma Shaker4Wael A. Thabet5Sanaa El-Sayed6Hesham M. Sallam7Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, EgyptSection of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA, USAOhio Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USADepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, EgyptDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, EgyptEgyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Cairo, EgyptMansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP), Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EgyptMansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP), Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EgyptNumerous non-avian theropod dinosaur fossils have been reported from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt, but unambiguous materials of Abelisauridae have yet to be documented. Here we report Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP) specimen 477, an isolated, well-preserved tenth cervical vertebra of a medium-sized abelisaurid from the Bahariya Formation. The new vertebra shows affinities with those of other Upper Cretaceous abelisaurids from Madagascar and South America, such as Majungasaurus crenatissimus, Carnotaurus sastrei, Viavenator exxoni and a generically indeterminate Patagonian specimen (Museo Padre Molina specimen 99). Phylogenetic analysis recovers the Bahariya form within Abelisauridae, either in a polytomy of all included abelisaurids (strict consensus tree) or as an early branching member of the otherwise South American clade Brachyrostra (50% majority rule consensus tree). MUVP 477, therefore, represents the first confirmed abelisaurid fossil from the Bahariya Formation and the oldest definitive record of the clade from Egypt and northeastern Africa more generally. The new vertebra demonstrates the wide geographical distribution of Abelisauridae across North Africa during the middle Cretaceous and augments the already extraordinarily diverse large-bodied theropod assemblage of the Bahariya Formation, a record that also includes representatives of Spinosauridae, Carcharodontosauridae and Bahariasauridae.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220106AbelisauridaeEgyptAfricaCretaceousBahariya Formation |
| spellingShingle | Belal S. Salem Matthew C. Lamanna Patrick M. O'Connor Gamal M. El-Qot Fatma Shaker Wael A. Thabet Sanaa El-Sayed Hesham M. Sallam First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt Royal Society Open Science Abelisauridae Egypt Africa Cretaceous Bahariya Formation |
| title | First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt |
| title_full | First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt |
| title_fullStr | First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt |
| title_full_unstemmed | First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt |
| title_short | First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt |
| title_sort | first definitive record of abelisauridae theropoda ceratosauria from the cretaceous bahariya formation bahariya oasis western desert of egypt |
| topic | Abelisauridae Egypt Africa Cretaceous Bahariya Formation |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220106 |
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