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Isolated theropod teeth from the Kem Kem Beds (Early Cenomanian) near Taouz, Morocco

Paläontologische Zeitschrift volume 87, pages 291–309 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Thirty-seven well-preserved, isolated theropod teeth from the Early Cenomanian Kem Kem beds, Morocco, are identified by using morphometric data and direct comparison with teeth previously described in the literature. Direct comparison reveals that four different morphotypes (MT 1–4) are present in the sample. The teeth of MT 1 are characterised by unserrated carinae and belong to spinosaurid dinosaurs. The teeth of MT 2–4 have serrated carinae, and our data analysis indicates they are of carcharodontosaurid, dromaeosaurid, and abelisaurid origin. Three types of crown enamel ornamentation are present among the teeth of MT 1, which implies that, apart from Spinosaurus aegyptiacus STROMER 1915, more than one species of spinosaurine theropods may be present in the Early Cenomanian of Northern Africa. Our results also confirm the occurrence of abelisaurids, dromaeosaurids, and carcharodontosaurids in Morocco.

Kurzfassung

Mit Hilfe morphometrischer Daten und durch einen direkten Vergleich mit Zähnen aus der Literatur können 37 isolierte Zähne von Theropoden aus den Kem Kem Schichten (Unteres Cenomanium) von Marokko 4 verschiedenen Morphotypen (MT) zugeordnet werden. Die Zähne des MT 1 zeichnen sich durch ein Fehlen der Serrationen der Carinae aus und gehören deshalb in die Gruppe der spinosauriden Dinosaurier. Die Zähne der MT 2–4 sind durch serrierte Carinae charakterisiert und die morphometrische Datenanalyse zeigt, dass es sich um Zähne von caracharodontosauriden, dromaeosauriden und abelisauriden Dinosauriern handelt. An Zähnen des MT 1 sind drei verschiedene Ornamentierungstypen des Schmelzes zu beobachten, was darauf hindeutet, dass es neben Spinosaurus aegyptiacus STROMER 1915 noch mehr als nur eine Art von spinosaurinen Theropoden zur Zeit des Unteren Cenomanium in Nord-Afrika gegeben haben könnte. Die Ergebnisse unserer Studie zeigen außerdem, dass abelisauride, dromaeosauride und carcharodontosauride Theropoden zu dieser Zeit in Nord-Afrika gelebt haben müssen.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Mike Reich, Institute of Geobiology, Museum des Geowissenschaftlichen Zentrums, Georg August University Göttingen, for the loan of the theropod teeth specimens from the Alberti Collection of Morocco and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Joger for the loan of the theropod teeth specimens from the collection of the Naturhistorischen Museum Braunschweig.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Initiative of Independent Palaeobiologists Deutschland (IIPD), Bernhard-Caspar-Strasse 12a, 30453, Hannover, Germany

    Ute Richter

  2. Initiative of Independent Palaeobiologists Deutschland (IIPD), Böcklinplatz 4, 30177, Hannover, Germany

    Alexander Mudroch

  3. Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre, 255 Murray Drive, PO Box 1540, Tumbler Ridge, BC, V0C 2W0, Canada

    Lisa G. Buckley

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  1. Ute Richter
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Correspondence to Ute Richter.

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Richter, U., Mudroch, A. & Buckley, L.G. Isolated theropod teeth from the Kem Kem Beds (Early Cenomanian) near Taouz, Morocco. Paläontol Z 87, 291–309 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-012-0153-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-012-0153-1

Keywords

  • Theropoda
  • Spinosaurinae
  • Dromaeosauridae
  • Carcharodontosauridae
  • Abelisauridae
  • Morocco
  • Kem Kem beds

Schlüsselwörter

  • Theropoda
  • Spinosaurinae
  • Dromaeosauridae
  • Carcharodontosauridae
  • Abelisauridae
  • Marokko