Biology:Stelladens

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Short description: Extinct genus of mosasaurine


Stelladens
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian
Stelladens teeth - Longrich et al 2023.png
Holotype teeth
Stelladens dentary - Longrich et al 2023.png
Holotype dentary
Scientific classification
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Stelladens

Longrich et al., 2023
Type species
Stelladens mysteriosus
Longrich et al., 2023

Stelladens is an extinct genus of mosasaurine. Fossils of Stelladens have been recovered from the Late Cretaceous Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, S. mysteriosus. It was a medium-sized mosasaur, measuring about 5 metres (16 ft) long.[1][2]

Discovery and naming

The holotype is MHNM.KHG.1436, a partial left dentary and two associated teeth, and it was discovered in Sidi Chennane, Morocco. It was named and described as Stelladens mysteriosus by Longrich et al. (2023).[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Longrich, Nicholas R.; Jalil, Nour-Eddine; Pereda-Suberbiola, Xabier; Bardet, Nathalie (2023). "Stelladens mysteriosus: A Strange New Mosasaurid (Squamata) from the Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) of Morocco" (in en). Fossils 1 (1): 2–14. doi:10.3390/fossils1010002. ISSN 2813-6284. 
  2. "Star-shaped teeth lead to discovery of new mosasaur species in Morocco". 18 May 2023. https://newatlas.com/science/star-shaped-teeth-mosasaur-stelladens-mysteriosus. 

Wikidata ☰ Q120176424 entry