Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America

Allosaurus is one of the best known theropod dinosaurs from the Jurassic and a crucial taxon in phylogenetic analyses. On the basis of an in-depth, firsthand study of the bulk of Allosaurus specimens housed in North American institutions, we describe here a new theropod dinosaur from the Upper Juras...

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Main Authors: Daniel J. Chure, Mark A. Loewen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2020-01-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/7803.pdf
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author Daniel J. Chure
Mark A. Loewen
author_facet Daniel J. Chure
Mark A. Loewen
author_sort Daniel J. Chure
collection DOAJ
description Allosaurus is one of the best known theropod dinosaurs from the Jurassic and a crucial taxon in phylogenetic analyses. On the basis of an in-depth, firsthand study of the bulk of Allosaurus specimens housed in North American institutions, we describe here a new theropod dinosaur from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Western North America, Allosaurus jimmadseni sp. nov., based upon a remarkably complete articulated skeleton and skull and a second specimen with an articulated skull and associated skeleton. The present study also assigns several other specimens to this new species, Allosaurus jimmadseni, which is characterized by a number of autapomorphies present on the dermal skull roof and additional characters present in the postcrania. In particular, whereas the ventral margin of the jugal of Allosaurus fragilis has pronounced sigmoidal convexity, the ventral margin is virtually straight in Allosaurus jimmadseni. The paired nasals of Allosaurus jimmadseni possess bilateral, blade-like crests along the lateral margin, forming a pronounced nasolacrimal crest that is absent in Allosaurus fragilis.
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spelling doaj.art-bc3fb839a9844b80a1757f61d537c37a2023-12-03T06:46:55ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592020-01-018e780310.7717/peerj.7803Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North AmericaDaniel J. Chure0Mark A. Loewen1Dinosaur National Monument (retired), Jensen, UT, USANatural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USAAllosaurus is one of the best known theropod dinosaurs from the Jurassic and a crucial taxon in phylogenetic analyses. On the basis of an in-depth, firsthand study of the bulk of Allosaurus specimens housed in North American institutions, we describe here a new theropod dinosaur from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Western North America, Allosaurus jimmadseni sp. nov., based upon a remarkably complete articulated skeleton and skull and a second specimen with an articulated skull and associated skeleton. The present study also assigns several other specimens to this new species, Allosaurus jimmadseni, which is characterized by a number of autapomorphies present on the dermal skull roof and additional characters present in the postcrania. In particular, whereas the ventral margin of the jugal of Allosaurus fragilis has pronounced sigmoidal convexity, the ventral margin is virtually straight in Allosaurus jimmadseni. The paired nasals of Allosaurus jimmadseni possess bilateral, blade-like crests along the lateral margin, forming a pronounced nasolacrimal crest that is absent in Allosaurus fragilis.https://peerj.com/articles/7803.pdfAllosaurusAllosaurus jimmadseniDinosaurTheropodMorrison FormationJurassic
spellingShingle Daniel J. Chure
Mark A. Loewen
Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America
PeerJ
Allosaurus
Allosaurus jimmadseni
Dinosaur
Theropod
Morrison Formation
Jurassic
title Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America
title_full Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America
title_fullStr Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America
title_full_unstemmed Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America
title_short Cranial anatomy of Allosaurus jimmadseni, a new species from the lower part of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Western North America
title_sort cranial anatomy of allosaurus jimmadseni a new species from the lower part of the morrison formation upper jurassic of western north america
topic Allosaurus
Allosaurus jimmadseni
Dinosaur
Theropod
Morrison Formation
Jurassic
url https://peerj.com/articles/7803.pdf
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