ISOLATED THEROPOD TEETH ASSOCIATED WITH A SAUROPOD SKELETON FROM THE ALLEN FORMATION (CAMPANIAN−MAASTRICHTIAN, UPPER CRETACEOUS) OF RÍO NEGRO, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA.

MESO, JORGE; HENDRICKX, CHRISTOPHE; BAIANO, MATTIA; CANALE, JUAN; SALGADO, LEONARDO; DIAZ MARTINEZ, IGNACIO

ACTA PALAEONTOLOGICA POLONICA

INST PALEOBIOLOGII PAN

Año: 2021 vol. 66

0567-7920

The discovery of theropod shed teeth associated with sauropod remains is relatively common in Cretaceous deposits of Patagonia. However, only a handful of studies have thoroughly explored the phylogenetic affinities of the theropod dental material. Here, we describe and identify twelve theropod shed teeth associated with a partially complete skeleton of a titanosaur sauropod from the Allen Formation (middle Campanian?lower Maastrichtian; Upper Cretaceous) of PasoCórdoba, Río Negro, Argentina. Using three methods, namely a cladistic analysis performed on a dentition-based data matrix, and a discriminant and cluster analyses conducted on a large dataset of theropod teeth measurements, we identify three dental morphotypes which are confidently referred to abelisaurid theropods. Whether the morphotypes represent different abelisaurid subclades or different positional entities within the jaw of the same abelisaurid species, is unknown. Such an identification, nevertheless, provides additional evidence of abelisaurids feeding on sauropod carcasses. This study highlights the importance of using combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies to identify isolated theropod teeth, especially those that can provide direct information on feeding ecology.