Two rare mosasaurs from the Maastrichtian of Angola and the Netherlands

A. S. Schulp, M. J. Polcyn, O. Mateus, L. L. Jacobs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report here the addition of two rare mosasaur taxa to the Maastrichtlan marine amniote fauna of Angola, both of which are also found in northern Europe. The new specimens include a dentary fragment referable to the large carnivore Pwgnathodon cf. saturator and an isolated tooth of the small durophage Carinodens belgicus. Both were recovered from Maastrichtlan outcrops in southern Angola in 2011. Additionally, a complete posterior mandibular unit of a large mosasaur from the type Maastrichtlan of the Netherlands, collected some time prior to 1879 and previously identified as 'Mosasaurus giganteus', is described and reassigned here to Pwgnathodon saturator; historical issues surrounding the taxonomic attribution of this specimen are clarified. The new material extends the known geographic distribution of Prognathodon saturator and Carinodens belgicus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-10
Number of pages8
JournalNetherlands Journal Of Geosciences-Geologie En Mijnbouw
Volume92
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2013

Keywords

  • Angola
  • Carinodens
  • Maastrichtlan
  • Mosasauridae
  • Prognathodon
  • The Netherlands

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