The complete osteology of the abelisaurid Viavenator exxoni, from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian, Upper Cretaceous) is described. Viavenator is characterized by a series of autapomorphies, including: transversely compressed parietal depressions on both
-Isolated bones of abelisauroid theropods from the Bauru Group (Late Cretaceous, Brazil), are described. They correspond to three individuals represented by fused ischia and part of the ilium, a partial axis, and a right fi bula, respectively. The fossils come from different sites in the municipalities of Ibirá (axis and fi bula) and Monte Alto (ilium and ischia), São Paulo State, from Maastrichtian beds of the São José do Rio Preto and the Marília formations (Bauru Group), respectively. The specimens provide new information on abelisauroids which are still poorly known in the Brazilian fossil record, and on the distribution of this diverse group of theropod dinosaurs in South America. These discoveries indicate that abelisauroids were the most common large predatory dinosaurs in the outcrops where they come from.
An isolated anterior caudal vertebra of a medium-large sized theropod dinosaur is reported here. It comes from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian, Late Cretaceous), Río Colorado Subgroup, Río Negro Province, northern Patagonia, Argentina. The specimen, MACN-PV-RN 1012, exhibits several derived characters that are diagnostic among theropods. Specifically, MACN-PV-RN 1012 is referable to Abelisauroidea because it possesses a centrodiapophyseal lamina on the ventral surface of the transverse processes, and to Abelisauridae due to the presence of transverse processes that are 1.4 times longer than the anteroposterior length of the centrum, a large median depression anterior to the base of the neural spine, and the lack of a prespinal fossa. MACN-PV-RN 1012 is included within Carnotaurinae, sharing with <i>Carnotaurus </i>and <i>Aucasaurus </i>transverse processes that are oriented dorsolaterally at an angle of 45° or more with regard to the horizontal axis of the vertebra. Thus, the specimen described here constitutes the first record of a derived abelisaurid from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation
Abelisaurids are among the most abundant and diverse Patagonian Late Cretaceous theropods. Here, we present a new furileusaurian abelisaurid, Llukalkan aliocranianus gen. et sp. nov., represented by cranial remains from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian) at La Invernada fossil area, northwestern Patagonia. Features characterizing this taxon include a possible caudal tympanic recess posterior to the columellar recess, a T-shaped lacrimal with jugal ramus lacking a suborbital process, and large foramina for caudal middle cerebral veins widely separated from the median supraoccipital crest. In addition to this, a bulge on the anteromedial border of the supratemporal fossa, tall and posteriorly projected paroccipital processes, basal tubera interconnected distally, a triangular basisphenoid recess, and a single foramen for the sphenoidal artery on the basisphenoid, differentiate Llukalkan from Viavenator exxoni. The latter is the other furileusaurian taxon from the same area and stratigraphic unit. Although the holotype of Llukalkan probably corresponds to a sub-adult-as the lacrimal morphology suggests-the possibility that it represents a juvenile of V. exxoni is discarded based mainly on the presence of a caudal tympanic recess (which is absent in V. exxoni). The probable coexistence of two abelisaurid taxa demonstrates that the abelisaurids were one of the most important-and likely the main-predator component of the ecosystems, not only in this area, but also in all of Patagonia, during the Late Cretaceous.
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