Baby dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Lance and Hell Creek formations and a description of a new species of theropod
Author
Carpenter, Kenneth
text
Contributions to Geology, University of Wyoming
1982
1982-01-31
20
123
134
journal article
26591
10.5281/zenodo.3238510
a342eb67-842d-41ab-a05d-3f010d0038ec
3238510
Pectinodon bakkeri
new species
Fig. 3
a-c
Synonymy
:
Saurornithoides
sp.
Estes, 1964
(in part).
Diagnosis
: As for genus.
Material:
Holotype
tooth,
UCM 38445
(
UCMP-V5711
)
H
6.2 mm
, W
3.7
mm.
Paratype
teeth:
UCM 38446
(
UCMP-V 5711
)
H
1.8 mm
, W
2 mm
;
UCMP
73098
(UCMP-V 5815) H
2.8 mm
, W
1.8
mm; and
UCMP
125239
(UCMP-V 5815) H
3.2 mm
. W
2.5
mm. Referred teeth (all adults and all from UCMP-V5620):
UCMP
125240
-
125247
.
Distribution
: Apparently restricted to Lance Formation of eastern Wyoming.
Holotype
from UCMP-V 5711, Bushy Tailed Blowout, Sl/z, sec. 20, T
37 N.
, R.
64 W.
, Niobrara County.
Etymology: Specific name in honor of Dr. Robert T Bakker, who has contributed considerably to the study of dinosaurs.
Discussion
: The large
holotype
tooth (
Fig. 3
a
) is not from a juvenile. The
paratypes
(
figs. 3
b
, c
), however, are small and probably are from babies.
Estes (1964)
referred teeth with large posterior denticulations to
Saurornithoides
sp., but later noted that this identification was incorrect (
personal communication
). Reexamination of Estes’ material revealed the presence of three different kinds of small theropod teeth. One group has large posterior serrations and are clearly referable to
Pectinodon bakkeri
(
e
.
g
.,
Estes, 1964
, Fig. 69
a
). Another group of teeth has smaller posterior serrations which are directed obliquely upward. The tip of the crown is oblique to the vertical axis of the tooth, but does not project posteriorly as in
Pectinodon
; the crown has a piercing tip. The first serration is significantly smaller than the crown tip. There may be poorly developed serrations on the anterior edge or a sharp translucent keel. These teeth are similar to those in the dentary of
Saurornithoides ínequalis
(ROM 1445) previously referred to
Troodon formosus
by
Russell (1948)
, and to
Saurornithoides junior
by
Barsbold (1974)
. This group of teeth from the Lance Formation is referred to
S
.
inequalis
. The third group of teeth has well developed serrations on the anterior and posterior margins; however, these serrations are smaller than those in
Pectinodon
or
Saurornithoides
. As in
Saurornithoides
, the crown tip functions in piercing. Furthermore, the first serration is significantly smaller than the crown tip. In many respects, these teeth resemble those of
Velociraptor mongoııensıs
(
e
.
g
.-,
AMNH
6515
), except that the anterior serrations are not significantly smaller than the posterior serrations.
Pectinodon bakkeri
is provisionally placed in the family
Saurornithoididae
because the crowns are strongly compressed laterally and serrations are well developed only on the posterior edge.