The first definitive carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from Asia and the delayed ascent of tyrannosaurids
- PMID:19488730
- DOI: 10.1007/s00114-009-0565-2
The first definitive carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from Asia and the delayed ascent of tyrannosaurids
Abstract
Little is known about the evolution of large-bodied theropod dinosaurs during the Early to mid Cretaceous in Asia. Prior to this time, Asia was home to an endemic fauna of basal tetanurans, whereas terminal Cretaceous ecosystems were dominated by tyrannosaurids, but the intervening 60 million years left a sparse fossil record. Here, we redescribe the enigmatic large-bodied Chilantaisaurus maortuensis from the Turonian of Inner Mongolia, China. We refer this species to a new genus, Shaochilong, and analyze its systematic affinities. Although Shaochilong has previously been allied with several disparate theropod groups (Megalosauridae, Allosauridae, Tyrannosauroidea, Maniraptora), we find strong support for a derived carcharodontosaurid placement. As such, Shaochilong is the first unequivocal Asian member of Carcharodontosauridae, which was once thought to be restricted to Gondwana. The discovery of an Asian carcharodontosaurid indicates that this clade was cosmopolitan in the Early to mid Cretaceous and that Asian large-bodied theropod faunas were no longer endemic at this time. It may also suggest that the ascent of tyrannosaurids into the large-bodied dinosaurian predator niche was a late event that occurred towards the end of the Cretaceous, between the Turonian and the Campanian.
Similar articles
- New tyrannosaur from the mid-Cretaceous of Uzbekistan clarifies evolution of giant body sizes and advanced senses in tyrant dinosaurs.Brusatte SL, Averianov A, Sues HD, Muir A, Butler IB.Brusatte SL, et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Mar 29;113(13):3447-52. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1600140113. Epub 2016 Mar 14.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016.PMID:26976562Free PMC article.
- The first definitive Asian spinosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Laos.Allain R, Xaisanavong T, Richir P, Khentavong B.Allain R, et al.Naturwissenschaften. 2012 May;99(5):369-77. doi: 10.1007/s00114-012-0911-7. Epub 2012 Apr 18.Naturwissenschaften. 2012.PMID:22528021
- A new clade of archaic large-bodied predatory dinosaurs (Theropoda: Allosauroidea) that survived to the latest Mesozoic.Benson RB, Carrano MT, Brusatte SL.Benson RB, et al.Naturwissenschaften. 2010 Jan;97(1):71-8. doi: 10.1007/s00114-009-0614-x. Epub 2009 Oct 14.Naturwissenschaften. 2010.PMID:19826771
- An exceptionally preserved Lower Cretaceous ecosystem.Zhou Z, Barrett PM, Hilton J.Zhou Z, et al.Nature. 2003 Feb 20;421(6925):807-14. doi: 10.1038/nature01420.Nature. 2003.PMID:12594504Review.
- The theropod furcula.Nesbitt SJ, Turner AH, Spaulding M, Conrad JL, Norell MA.Nesbitt SJ, et al.J Morphol. 2009 Jul;270(7):856-79. doi: 10.1002/jmor.10724.J Morphol. 2009.PMID:19206153Review.
Cited by
- The first dinosaur from Washington State and a review of Pacific coast dinosaurs from North America.Peecook BR, Sidor CA.Peecook BR, et al.PLoS One. 2015 May 20;10(5):e0127792. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127792. eCollection 2015.PLoS One. 2015.PMID:25993090Free PMC article.
- Torvosaurus gurneyi n. sp., the largest terrestrial predator from Europe, and a proposed terminology of the maxilla anatomy in nonavian theropods.Hendrickx C, Mateus O.Hendrickx C, et al.PLoS One. 2014 Mar 5;9(3):e88905. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088905. eCollection 2014.PLoS One. 2014.PMID:24598585Free PMC article.
- New information on the cranial anatomy of Acrocanthosaurus atokensis and its implications for the phylogeny of Allosauroidea (Dinosauria: Theropoda).Eddy DR, Clarke JA.Eddy DR, et al.PLoS One. 2011 Mar 21;6(3):e17932. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017932.PLoS One. 2011.PMID:21445312Free PMC article.
- New tyrannosaur from the mid-Cretaceous of Uzbekistan clarifies evolution of giant body sizes and advanced senses in tyrant dinosaurs.Brusatte SL, Averianov A, Sues HD, Muir A, Butler IB.Brusatte SL, et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Mar 29;113(13):3447-52. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1600140113. Epub 2016 Mar 14.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016.PMID:26976562Free PMC article.
- A bizarre, humped Carcharodontosauria (Theropoda) from the lower cretaceous of Spain.Ortega F, Escaso F, Sanz JL.Ortega F, et al.Nature. 2010 Sep 9;467(7312):203-6. doi: 10.1038/nature09181.Nature. 2010.PMID:20829793
References
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Research Materials