Small theropod teeth from the Upper Jurassic coal mine of Guimarota (Portugal)

Abstract

Isolated teeth of small theropod dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic lignite coal mine of Guimarota (near Leiria, Portugal) are described and illustrated. The well known Upper Jurassic theropods from Europe, Archaeopteryx and Compso- gnathus, are the most common taxa in the Guimarota assem- blage. One morphotype is closely related to an allosaurid theropod. Six further morphotypes of theropod teeth are also described, which are closely related to Cretaceous theropods such as dromaeosaurids, troodontids, tyrannosaurids, Richar- doestesia and Paronychodon. A Late Jurassic origin of these groups of theropods, which is very often postulated, is dis- cussed.