Appendicular osteology of Skorpiovenator bustingorryi (Theropoda, Abelisauridae) with comments on phylogenetic features of abelisaurids

MAURICIO CERRONI; MATTIA BAIANO; JUAN CANALE; FEDERICO AGNOLÍN; ALEJANDRO OTERO; FERNANDO NOVAS

CRETACEOUS RESEARCH (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2022

0195-6671

Skorpiovenator bustingorryi is a derived abelisaurid theropod represented by a fairly complete skeleton coming from sedimentary beds of the Upper Cretaceous beds of NW Patagonia. Though some features were described in the original paper, mainly related with the skull, the appendicular anatomy remains hitherto undescribed. The aim of the present contribution is to make a detailed description and analysis of the available appendicular bones, including comparisons with other ceratosaurian theropods close to Skorpiovenator. In this way, new autapomorphies emerged to further distinguish Skorpiovenator from its relatives. Furthermore, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis was performed and several characteristics of the hindlimb, in particular the autopodium, resulted as apomorphic for Ceratosauria and Abelisauridae. These features may prove to be useful for future phylogenetic analyses and may help to resolve the still confusing and debated internal relationships of abelisaurid theropods.