A new specimen of a Mosasaurinae (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica with comments on the Weddellian Mosasaurinae diversity

O´GORMAN JP; BONA P; CANALE J; TINEO DE; FERNÁNDEZ MS; CÁRDENAS M.; REGUERO M

ALCHERINGA

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023

0311-5518

Mosasaurs were globally distributed throughout the Cretaceous oceans, including those surrounding Antarctica. A mosasaur humerus (IAA-Pv 819) from upper Maastrichtian beds of the López de Bertodano Formation of Antarctica is phylogenetically recovered in a mosasaurine polytomy as a close relative of Plotosaurus beninsoni and Mosasaurus spp. Comparisons between IAA-Pv 819 and other Weddellian mosasaurs reveal differences indicating that morphological disparity and taxonomic diversity of Antarctic mosasaurines may be higher than previously recognised.