The hand structure of Carnotaurus sastrei (Theropoda, Abelisauridae): Implications for hand diversity and evolution in abelisaurids

  1. Ruiz, J. 1
  2. Torices, A. 1
  3. Serrano, H. 1
  4. López, Valle. 1
  1. 1 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

Revista:
Palaeontology

ISSN: 0031-0239

Año de publicación: 2011

Volumen: 54

Número: 6

Páginas: 1271-1277

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1111/J.1475-4983.2011.01091.X SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-81255171445 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Otras publicaciones en: Palaeontology

Resumen

Carnotaurus sastrei is an abelisaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina that has very reduced, but robust, forelimbs and derived hands with four digits, including a large, conical-shaped metacarpal IV lacking an articulation for a phalanx. The analysis presented in this work highlights a series of additional autapomorphies of C. sastrei. For example, the proximal phalanges are longer than the metacarpals in digits II and III, and digit III includes only one phalanx besides the ungual. The hand of Carnotaurus shares several features with those of Aucasaurus and Majungasaurus, but the hands of the latter genera also display autapomorphies, indicating that the diversity in abelisaurid hand structure is similar to the diversity of cranial protuberances of these dinosaurs. © The Palaeontological Association.