Kryptops
Skeleton found lots of Kryptops.
- Niger ( Elrhaz Formation)
Kryptops is a genus theropod dinosaur from the group of Abelisauridae. So far, a fragmentary skeleton is only known that from the Lower Cretaceous ( Aptian ) of Niger originates. The only way is Kryptops palaios.
The name Kryptops (Size: crypto - "hidden", ops - "face" ) has the pitted surface of the upper jaw, which indicates a possible existence of keratin covering. The second part of the species name, palaios (gr. " old " ), has compared with the related genera high geological age.
Features
Kryptops is estimated at a length of 6 to 7 meters and was about the same as Majungasaurus. The upper jaw is estimated to be about 25 centimeters in length, indicating an approximately 50 -centimeter-long skull. The length of the skull was in proportion to body significantly smaller than in the better-known representatives of the Abelisauridae.
The paired maxillary presumably contained in the living animal per 17 or 18 teeth. The outwardly facing surface of the upper jaw is provided with numerous rough and, pointing in different directions pits. This texturing could point out that the was the facial bone overlying integument of keratin. Unlike related genera such as Rugops these pits were relatively short ( autapomorphy ).
System
Sereno and Brusatte conducted a cladistic analysis and classify Kryptops tentatively identified as an early and basal ( original ) Representatives of Abelisauridae.
Kryptops
Rugops
Majungasaurus
Discovery
The only skeleton of Kryptops ( holotype, specimen number MNN GAD1 ) comes from the locality of Gadoufaoua Elrhaz Formation in the western edge of the Ténéré southeast of Agadez. It consists of a left upper jaw, some vertebrae and ribs, as well as fragments of the pelvic girdle and sacrum. These fossils probably come from a single individual, since except two teeth any other vertebrate remains were discovered in the vicinity of the find. Pelvic girdle and sacrum were found in the original anatomical network. Was embedded during the major part of the skeleton found in the rock matrix, the upper jaw was eroded and about 15 feet has been found from the other cooking.
Paleoecology
The Elrhaz lineup is home to a diverse land vertebrate fauna. The Großtheropode most frequently discovered is the Spinosauride Suchomimus; other theropods close Eocarcharia and an undescribed Noasauriden with a. Plant-eating dinosaurs of the formation close to the sauropods and ornithopods Nigersaurus Ouranosaurus and Lurdusaurus with a. In addition, the remains of various crocodile relative, turtles, and fish bones, the remains of a hybodonten shark and freshwater mussels were found.
Documents
Used literature
- Paul C. Sereno, Stephen L. Brusatte: Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger. In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 53, No. 1, 2008, pp. 15-46, doi: 10.4202/app.2008.0102 (PDF).