A new Plotosaurini mosasaur skull from the upper Maastrichtian of Antarctica. Plotosaurini paleogeographic occurrences. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: González Ruiz, Pablo; Fernández, Marta S.; Talevi, Marianella; Leardi, Juan M.; Reguero, Marcelo A.
• Is Part Of: Cretaceous research. Volume 103(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Upper cretaceous -- Marambio Island -- Antarctic Peninsula -- Mosasaur; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Cretaceous -- Periodicals; 551.77
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2019.06.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6671

Abstract

Abstract: During the Antarctic summer campaigns and as a result of paleontological fieldworks 2013–2015 several mosasaur remains have been collected from the upper Maastrichtian López de Bertodano Formation exposed at Marambio (=Seymour) Island, of the Antarctic Peninsula. One of these specimens preserves part of the skull and dentition, which represent one of the few known skulls from Antarctica. The new specimen (MLP 15-I-24-41) is similar to member of the mosasaur tribe Plotosaurini, sharing the same fronto-parietal suture pattern, and a similar dental morphology as some of the species assigned to the genus. As the specimen is not complete enough to propose a new name it is referred to Mosasaurus sp . The presence of these remains on the southern hemisphere represents one of the most complete records of a Mosasaurus mosasaur. Highlights: A new mosasaur skull from Antarctica. The cosmopolitan status of a widespread taxa is questioned. The new findings shed light in the dispersion of plotosaurine mosasaurus in the Late Cretaceous.