Craniomandibular osteology of Manidens condorensis (Ornithischia: Heterodontosauridae) from the late Lower Jurassic of Argentina

BECERRA M.G; POL, D.; PORRO, L.; PAULINA CARABAJAL, A.; RAUHUT, O.

JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

SOC VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2023 vol. 42

0272-4634

Heterodontosauridae is alineage of small-bodied, early branching ornithischian dinosaurs characterised byan unusual heterodont dentition specialised for herbivory. Although known from relatively few taxa, the clade is crucial forunderstanding the early evolution and paleobiology of the highly diverseOrnthischia. Thispaper describes the cranial osteology of the heterodontosaurid Manidens condorensis based on computed micro-tomographic scans of MPEF-PV3211 and MPEF-PV 3809 that allowed the removal of attached rock and theseparation of the skull bones from one another by selective 3D segmentation.This practice enabled more detailed descriptions of previously recognized bonesand the identification of undescribed elements. We present a new hypotheticalskull reconstruction and discuss an amended diagnosis in light of novel anatomicalinformation. The areas of jaw muscle attachment were identified and comparedwith Heterodontosaurus and Lesothosaurus, and possible mandibular functioning was discussedamong heterodontosaurids, suggesting a diversity in the function of early ornithischians, beingintermediate between the generalized condition of Lesothosaurus and Tianyulong, and thederived features of SouthAfrican heterodontosaurids.