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Evidence of theropod dinosaurs from a Lower Cretaceous karst filling in the northern Sauerland (Rhenish Massif, Germany)

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Abstract

Theropod dinosaur teeth from a Lower Cretaceous karst filling in Devonian reef limestone (Massenkalk) located near the village of Balve on the northern margin of the Rhenish Massif, Germany, are described. Palynological evidence indicates that the karst filling took place during the Late Barremian to (Early) Aptian time interval. Palaeontological excavations carried out during several years at the Balve locality yielded remains of various animal groups, including sharks, amphibians, turtles, crocodiles, pterosaurs, herbivore dinosaurs, and, rarely, mammals. Of particular interest is an assemblage of different theropod dinosaur teeth, which has been characterized with the help of dental comparative morphometry. Based on these analyses, the teeth material from the Balve excavation can be assigned to five morphological groupings including dromaeosaurid and tyrannosauroid theropods. Morphological comparison of the theropod dinosaur teeth record with finds from other fossil localities in western and northwestern Europe of similar age shows clear similarities, but also some distinct differences.

Kurzfassung

Theropodenzähne aus einer unterkretazischen Karstfüllung im devonischen Massenkalk nahe der Ortschaft Balve am Nordrand des Rheinischen Schiefergebirges, Deutschland werden beschrieben. Palynologische Untersuchungen legen nahe, dass die Verfüllung der Karstspalte im Zeitraum spätes Barremium bis (frühes) Aptium stattgefunden hat. Eine über mehrere Jahre durchgeführte paläontologische Grabung an der Lokalität Balve hat neben Resten von Haien vor allem Amphibien, Schildkröten, Krokodilier, Perosaurier, herbivore Dinosaurier und, selten, Säugetiere geliefert. Von besonderem Interesse sind Funde von unterschiedlichen Theropodenzähnen, welche mittels vergleichender Dentalmorphologie untersucht wurden. Basierend auf diesen Analysen lassen sich die Zähne aus der Balve Grabung in fünf morphologische Gruppen, darunter dromeosauriden und tyrannosauroiden Theropoden, zuordnen. Ein Vergleich der Morphologie der vorgefundenen Theropodenzähne mit Resten aus anderen Fundstellen gleichen Alters in West- und Nordwest-Europa zeigen deutliche Übereinstimmungen, aber auch klare Unterschiede.

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Acknowledgments

The author thanks the discoverer of the find locality, Herr Paul Hein from Neheim, for reporting the find and the company Rheinkalk GmbH for permission to carry out the lengthy excavations in their quarry. Thanks are additionally owed to the preparators and excavation specialists of the LWL Museums für Naturkunde as well as the work placement students and student volunteers who helped with the excavations and washing the sediment. Special thanks go to Prof. P.-A. Hochuli, University of Zürich, Switzerland, for his assistance with the palynology and to Chris Wood, London, UK, for his help with the English text. We are especially grateful to Steve Brusatte, Oliver Rauhut, and an anonymous reviewer whose thoughtful comments significantly improved this manuscript.

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  1. LWL Museum für Naturkunde, Sentruper Str. 265, 48161, Münster, Germany

    Klaus-Peter Lanser

  2. Institut für Geologie, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstr. 30, 30167, Hannover, Germany

    Ulrich Heimhofer

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  1. Klaus-Peter Lanser
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Correspondence to Ulrich Heimhofer.

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Lanser, KP., Heimhofer, U. Evidence of theropod dinosaurs from a Lower Cretaceous karst filling in the northern Sauerland (Rhenish Massif, Germany). Paläontol Z 89, 79–94 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-013-0215-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-013-0215-z

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