[D] Masiakasaurus knopfleri [Su] [sG] [T]
Describer
Sampson, Carrano & Forster, 2001
Time
Cretaceous Late Maastrichtian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Abelisauridae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Gres de Maevarano, Madagascar
Length
1,80 meter
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Masiakasaurus is represented by several skull elements and much of the postcranial skeleton it features remarkable forward-pointing teeth and jaws of a sophistication not previously seen in a dinosaur. Numerous skeletal characteristics indicate that Masiakasaurus is a member of Abelisauroidea, an enigmatic clade of Gondwanan theropods and is closely related to the small bodied \\\\\\\'abelosauroid\\\\\\\' theropods from India and Argentina..
The occurrence of Masiakasaurus on Madagascar suggests that small-bodied abelisauroids, like their larger-bodied counterparts, were more cosmopolitan, radiating throughout much of Gondwana and paralleling the diversification of small coelurosaur theropods in Laurasia. The species epithet honors Dire Straits rock musician Mark Knopfler.
Etymology
Malagasy masiaka = \\\\\\\"vicious\\\\\\\" and Greek sauros = \\\\\\\"lizard\\\\\\\".
Holotype
UA 8680, almost complete right dentary with several teeth.
Known material
Miscellaneous skull and postcranial remains representing approximately 40 percent of the skeleton.
Diagnosis of genus (as for the type species)
Abelisauroid having mesial four dentary teeth precumbent, first inclined at 10 degrees above horizontal, lying in alveolus slung below ventral margin of dentary; first alveolus large; ventrally expanded lateral to mesio-distally long dentary symphysis; lower dentition markedly heterodont; first four teeth weakly spatulate; elongate, terminating in distally hooked, pointed apex; mesial dentary teeth bearing two weakly serated distal carinae, having faint distal ridges; more distal teeth transversely compressed, recurved, distal carinae serrated (Carrano, Sampson and Forster , 2002)
Sampson, Carrano & Forster, 2001
Time
Cretaceous Late Maastrichtian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Abelisauridae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Gres de Maevarano, Madagascar
Length
1,80 meter
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Masiakasaurus is represented by several skull elements and much of the postcranial skeleton it features remarkable forward-pointing teeth and jaws of a sophistication not previously seen in a dinosaur. Numerous skeletal characteristics indicate that Masiakasaurus is a member of Abelisauroidea, an enigmatic clade of Gondwanan theropods and is closely related to the small bodied \\\\\\\'abelosauroid\\\\\\\' theropods from India and Argentina..
The occurrence of Masiakasaurus on Madagascar suggests that small-bodied abelisauroids, like their larger-bodied counterparts, were more cosmopolitan, radiating throughout much of Gondwana and paralleling the diversification of small coelurosaur theropods in Laurasia. The species epithet honors Dire Straits rock musician Mark Knopfler.
Etymology
Malagasy masiaka = \\\\\\\"vicious\\\\\\\" and Greek sauros = \\\\\\\"lizard\\\\\\\".
Holotype
UA 8680, almost complete right dentary with several teeth.
Known material
Miscellaneous skull and postcranial remains representing approximately 40 percent of the skeleton.
Diagnosis of genus (as for the type species)
Abelisauroid having mesial four dentary teeth precumbent, first inclined at 10 degrees above horizontal, lying in alveolus slung below ventral margin of dentary; first alveolus large; ventrally expanded lateral to mesio-distally long dentary symphysis; lower dentition markedly heterodont; first four teeth weakly spatulate; elongate, terminating in distally hooked, pointed apex; mesial dentary teeth bearing two weakly serated distal carinae, having faint distal ridges; more distal teeth transversely compressed, recurved, distal carinae serrated (Carrano, Sampson and Forster , 2002)