The North African Mosasaur Globidens phosphaticus from the Maastrichtian of Angola

Abstract

New mosasaur fossils from Maastrichtian beds at Bentiaba, Angola, representing elements of the skull and postcranial axial skeleton from two individuals of the durophagous genus Globidens, are reported. Based on dental morphology, specifically the inflated posterior surface and vertical sulci, the Bentiaba specimens are identified as Globidens phosphaticus, a species defined by characters of a composite dentition from the Maastrichtian of Morocco. Comparisons indicate that G. phosphaticus is most closely related to G. schurmanni, from the late Campanian of South Dakota, the youngest north American Globidens species at about 72.5 Ma. The morphology of the premaxilla and its relationship with the maxillae is unique among mosasaurs, and supports the taxonomic validity of G. phosphaticus. In contrast with earlier species of the genus, G. phosphaticus is currently known from north and west Africa, the Middle East and the central eastern margin of South America, suggesting it may have been restricted to the Maastrichtian tropical zone as previously hypothesised.

Keywords:

• durophagous
• Globidens
• mosasaur
• biogeography
• Angola

Acknowledgements

We thank our Angolan friends and colleagues for all of their help with planning and assistance with our expeditions, including Margarida Ventura, Andre Neto Buto, Tatiana Tavares, Maria Luísa and Eduardo Morais. We thank graduate students Chris Strganac, Rui Castanhinha and Bruno Pereira who were the backbone of our 2007 field crew. Initial preparation of the fossils was performed by Rui Castanhinha and Ricardo Araújo at the Museu da Lourinhã, in Portugal and by Vicky Quick at SMU. The bulk of the preparation to date was performed by Bill Johnson at SMU. Field work was supported by National Geographic, the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society, the Institute for the Study of Earth and Man at SMU, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Luanda, Angola and TAP Airlines. For collections access and assistance, we thank Jim Martin, Sally Shelton, Bill Simpson, Michael Brett-Surman, Pascal Godefroit, Mary Bade and Nathalie Bardet. We thank our reviewers for providing useful comments and criticisms.

Notes

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Louis L. Jacobs

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Anne S. Schulp

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Octávio Mateus

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