Paleontologists have uncovered a new species of mosasaur in Morocco that may provide insight into the diverse adaptations of large marine reptiles that lived during the late Cretaceous period, according to a research paper published recently in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
Named Carinodens acrodon, the discovery of this new aquatic reptile species adds to the intriguing evolutionary history of the Carinodens genus, known for its specialized teeth and durophagous diet. Durophagous predators consume hard-shelled or exoskeleton-bearing organisms, such as corals, shelled mollusks, or crabs.
Researchers unearthed the fossilized remains of Carinodens acrodon in the Sidi Chennane phosphate mine in Khouribga province. The species, which lived approximately 67 million years ago, coexisted with two other species derived from the genus, Carinodens minalmamar and Carinodens belgicus.
Paleontologists describe C. acrodon as having tall-crowned teeth with triangular apices and broad bases, an evolutionary characteristic that contrasts with the lower, rectangular teeth typical of other Carinodens species.
The scientific team believes these features point to a more primitive lineage of the genus. The discovery is also the first time scientists have found well-preserved upper and lower jaws from any Carinodens.
“Mosasaur diversity in Morocco is exceptional,” said Nicholas Longrich, a paleontologist at the University of Bath and lead author of the study first published in Diversity. Mosasaurs “continued to spread until just prior to the post-Cretaceous mass extinction, showing a remarkable range of ecological adaptations.”
The Carinodens genus stands out among mosasaurs for its smaller size, typically measuring two to three meters in length, and its highly specialized teeth. Unlike their ancestors, which hunted fish and soft-bodied prey, Carinodens species developed teeth adapted for crushing hard-shelled invertebrates such as mollusks.
Their teeth are “low in profile, compressed, and feature finely anastomosed enamel, making them uniquely suited to their [shell-fish] diet,” Longrich explained.