BOLETÍN DE LA SOCIEDAD GEOLÓGICA MEXICANA Vol 63, Núm. 3, 2011, P. 393-398. http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2011v63n3a2

 Presence of a maniraptoriform dinosaur in the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Chiapas, southern Mexico

Presencia de un dinosaurio maniraptoriforme en el Cretácico tardío (Maastrichtiano) de Chiapas, sur de México

Gerardo Carbot–Chanona^1,* y Héctor E. Rivera–Sylva²

¹ Museo de Paleontología "Eliseo Palacios Aguilera", Dirección de Paleontología, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente e Historia Natural. Calzada de los Hombres Ilustres s/n, 29000, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México.

² Departamento de Paleontología, Museo del Desierto, Carlos Abedrop Dávila 3745, 25022, Saltillo, Coahuila, México.

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 Abstract

Here is described the first dinosaur evidence from Chiapas, and also the southernmost evidence of dinosaurs in Mexico. A small theropod tooth, identified as Richardoestesia isosceles, based on its shape and the presence of small denticles on the mesial and distal carinae with rounded outline, was collected in the Ocozocoautla Formation (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian). These results extend the fossil record of this taxon in North America, as it is the southernmost record of Richardoestesia and the first report of this genus in Mexico.

Keywords: Dinosaur, Theropoda, Richardoestesia, Maastrichtian, Chiapas, Mexico.