New dinosaur sported a curious set of chompers

ScienceNews.com ^ | October 26, 2017 | Helen Thompson

[ETL]

Fossils discovered in France linked to previously unknown Cretaceous species.

An ancient vegetarian dinosaur from the French countryside has given paleontologists something to sink their teeth into.

The most striking feature of a new species of rhabdodontid that lived from 84 million to 72 million years ago is its oversized, scissorslike teeth, paleontologist Pascal Godefroit, of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels, and his colleagues report October 26 in Scientific Reports.

Compared with other dinos of its kind, Matheronodon provincialis’ teeth were at least twice as large but fewer in number. Some teeth reached up to 6 centimeters long, while others grew up to 5 centimeters wide. They looked like a caricature of normal rhabdodontid teeth, Godefroit says.

Of hundreds of fossils unearthed over the last two decades at a site called Velaux-La Bastide Neuve in the French countryside, a handful of jaw bones and teeth now have been linked to this new species, Matheronodon provincialis.

The toothy dino belongs to a group of herbivorous, bipedal dinosaurs common in the Cretaceous Period. Rhabdodontids sported bladelike teeth, and likely noshed on the tough woody tissue parts of plants. Palm trees, common in Europe at the time, might have been on the menu.

Rhabdodontid teeth have ridges covered by a thick layer of enamel on one side and little to no ridges or enamel on the other. Teeth in the upper jaw have more ridges and enamel on the outer edge, while the reverse is true for bottom teeth.

A closer look at the microstructure of M. provincialis’ teeth revealed an exaggerated version of this — many more ridges and lopsided enamel coating. Enamel typically protects from wear and tear, so chewing would have sharpened the dino’s teeth. “They operated like self-sharpening serrated scissors,” Godefroit says.

[ETL]

NOTHIN’ BUT THE TOOTH The cheek-facing side of Matheronodon’s upper jaw teeth (one shown) were lined with up to 25 tiny ridges, while the tongue-facing side of the tooth had a smoother surface.

ALL TEETH  While researchers have only the dinosaur’s upper jaw bone and some teeth, this reconstruction takes a stab at a portrait of Matheronodon provincialis, a new species.

[ETL]

To me it looks like an elderly dinosaur that forgot to put in his falsies.

[MtnClimber]

Interesting how much new is being discovered.

[ETL]

Dino ping...

[UCANSEE2]

In this case, wouldn’t it be how much ‘old’ is being discovered ?

[ETL]

Interesting how much new [stuff] is being discovered.

Yes. Not only are they digging in places they didn't and/or couldn't before, but now they have lots of sophisticated technology and techniques for analyzing at their disposal, including cat scans.

[peeps36]

I thought it was a picture of Helen Thomas.

[tet68]

Put a rhinestone cowboy hat on it and I’d
recognizer her for sure.

[ETL]

I thought it was a picture of Helen Thomas.

Did you happen to notice the name of the author?

New dinosaur sported a curious set of chompers
ScienceNews.com ^ | October 26, 2017 | Helen Thompson

[minnesota_bound]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks ETL.

Cretaceous vegetarian, a new species of rhabdodontid that lived from 84 million to 72 million years ago

A giant bunny. Tastes like chicken. Comes in a really big bucket.

[AndyTheBear]

...a new species of rhabdodontid that lived from 84 million to 72 million years ago

If they call that "new"...I wonder what they would call "old".

[ETL]

Tastes like chicken.

Lol!

[ETL]

[ApplegateRanch]

Don’t forget to pickle those feet, and smoke the tongue.

[JimSEA]

A beak and rear teeth. Efficiency for feeding. Cool.

[peeps36]

I didn't see that. It took me a few minutes to remember Helen's name. I would have remembered sooner if I saw the author's name.

[ETL]

I doubt any dinosaur was ever THIS ugly.

[submarinerswife]

You should know the rules. Mention her name, you must post a picture of her..

Thanks a lot, peeps.

[peeps36]

I would have followed the rules but posting pictures is beyond my skill level. Plus I just had a snack and I doubt my stomach could have handled something so hideous.