New sphenodontians (Diapsida: Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia) from the Early Cretaceous of North Africa

ABSTRACT

New sphenodontian material is described from the Early Cretaceous (?Berriasian) of Morocco. Two taxa are recognized. The first is represented by a dentary and, probably, a partial maxilla. Comparison with known Jurassic and Early Cretaceous genera suggests the Moroccan form is sufficiently distinctive in its tooth and jaw morphology to warrant the erection of a new genus and species, Tingitana anoualae. The second taxon, sphenodontian B, is represented by a small dentary which bears a superficial resemblance to that of Theretairus (Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, North America) in its simple alternating dentition—a hatchling condition. A fragment of a larger dentary bearing the remains of an anterior caniniform tooth may also be attributable to this form. Sphenodontian B differs from Tingitana in overall size, hatchling tooth number, and in the shape of the coronoid process of the dentary, but cannot be named without more diagnostic material.