First discovery of theropod teeth from the Nenjiang Formation (early Campanian) in the Songliao Basin, northeast China

ABSTRACT

Recently, a new fossil site containing microvertebrate remains has been discovered in the upper part of the Nenjiang Formation (early Campanian) in the Songliao Basin, northeast China. Five isolated theropod teeth were discovered. The teeth were analysed based on morphological traits and the results showed that they correspond to the clades of Troodontidae, Dromaeosauridae and ?Tyrannosauridae. One dromaeosaurid tooth can be furtherly assigned to Dromaeosaurinae. It is the first discovery of theropod teeth from the Nenjiang Formation, also the first record of the Dromaeosaurinae from China. This study extends the known geographic range of these clades of theropods. The new materials also expand knowledge of the terrestrial ecosystem during the Late Cretaceous of the Songliao Basin.

KEYWORDS:

• Campanian
• Songliao Basin
• Nenjiang Formation
• Theropoda
• teeth

Acknowledgements

We thank the quarry owner, Mr. Zhang Tingchang, for granting the permission to excavate and conduct fieldwork, and all members of the excavation team.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Financial support provided by the National Key Research & Development Program of China (2019YFC0605402) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41790453).