A new Abelisaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lameta Formation (Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of India

Abstract

Many isolated dinosaur bones and teeth have been recovered from Cretaceous rocks in India, but associated remains are exceedingly rare. We report on the discovery of associated cranial and postcranial remains of a new abelisaurid theropod from latest Cretaceous rocks in western India. The new taxon is characterized by exceptionally elongated supratemporal fenestrae and a unique median nasofrontal protuberance. Postcranial elements include vertebrae and portions of the pelvic girdle and hind limbs. The ilium, in particular, is robustly constructed. Much of the large-bodied theropod material collected from latest Cretaceous rocks in central and western India may pertain to this abelisaurid. The new Indian species is more closely allied to Majungatholus from Madagascar and Carnotaurus from South America than to related forms on Africa. Paleobiogeographic interpretation of this phylogenetic pattern, however, must be tempered by the lack of terrestrial faunas of similar age on several of these landmasses: pre-Maastrichtian Cretaceous vertebrates are virtually unknown on Madagascar and India, and post-Cenomanian vertebrates are very poorly sampled on Africa.