A new species of the durophagous mosasaur Carinodens (Squamata, Mosasauridae) and additional material of Carinodens belgicus from the Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco

  • A.S. Schulp Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, De Bosquetplein 6-7, NL-6211 KJ Maastricht, the Netherlands; Faculteit der Aard- en Levenswetenschappen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • N. Bardet UMR 7207 du CNRS, Département Histoire de la Terre, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, C.P. 38, 8 rue Buffon, F-75005 Paris, France
  • B. Bouya Office Chérifien des Phosphates, Centre Minier de Khouribga, Khouribga, Morocco
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016774600000871
Keywords: Mosasauridae, Carinodens, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous, Morocco

Abstract

Five new dentaries, representing three individuals of the poorly known durophagous mosasaur Carinodens are described from the Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco. Contrary to previous assumptions, the dentary of Carinodens holds 17-18 teeth, rather than 13. One pair of dentaries represents a new species, Carinodens minalmamar, characterised by laterally flattened teeth with two relatively pronounced sulci, a tooth count of 18, and a more slender general aspect of the dentary itself. The new material requires adjustment of previous reconstructions, assumptions on jaw mechanics, and palaeobiological interpretations of Carinodens.

Published
2009-11-01
How to Cite
A.S. Schulp, N. Bardet, & B. Bouya. (2009). A new species of the durophagous mosasaur Carinodens (Squamata, Mosasauridae) and additional material of Carinodens belgicus from the Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences, 88, 161 - 167. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016774600000871
Issue
Volume 88 - 2009
Section
Original Articles
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