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Aucasaurus garridoi is an abelisaurid theropod from the Anacleto Formation (lower Campanian, Upper Cretaceous) of Patagonia, Argentina. The holotype of Aucasaurus garridoi includes cranial material, axial elements, and almost complete fore- and hind limbs. Here we present a detailed description of the axial skeleton of this taxon, along with some paleobiological and phylogenetic inferences. The presacral elements are somewhat fragmentary, although these show features shared with other abelisaurids. The caudal series, to date the most complete among brachyrostran abelisaurids, shows several autapomorphic features including the presence of pneumatic recesses on the dorsal surface of the anterior caudal neural arches, a tubercle lateral to the prezygapophysis of mid caudal vertebrae, a marked protuberance on the lateral rim of the transverse process of the caudal vertebrae, and the presence of a small ligamentous scar near the anterior edge of the dorsal surface in the anteriormost caudal transverse process. The detailed study of the axial skeleton of Aucasaurus garridoi has also allowed us to identify characters that could be useful for future studies attempting to resolve the internal phylogenetic relationships of Abelisauridae. Computed tomography scans of some caudal vertebrae show pneumatic traits in neural arches and centra, and thus the first reported case for an abelisaurid taxon. Moreover, some osteological correlates of soft tissues present in Aucasaurus and other abelisaurids, especially derived brachyrostrans, underscore a previously proposed increase in axial rigidity within Abelisauridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal pneumaticity implies bone invasion via air sacs that are diverticula of the respiratory system. Among extant vertebrates, this feature is found only in birds, and in extinct taxa it occurs in saurischian dinosaurs and pterosaurs. The sauropod axial skeleton is characterized by having a complex architecture of laminae and fossae that have usually been related to some degree of pneumaticity. We examined the external anatomy of the presacral vertebrae of two dicraeosaurid sauropods holotype specimens, Amargasaurus cazaui and Brachytrachelopan mesai , and obtained computed tomography scan images from mid- and posterior cervical vertebrae of both specimens and an anterior dorsal vertebra of Brachytrachelopan. In all cases, we recognized a 'procamerate' internal pneumatization pattern, confirming previous hypotheses that dicraeosaurid vertebral pneumaticity is reduced relative to other eusauropod taxa. Thus, pneumatic diverticula were present in Amargasaurus , Brachytrachelopan , Dicraeosaurus , Pilmatueia and, possibly, other dicraeosaurid sauropods, but these diverticula did not invade their presacral vertebrae extensively. Furthermore, we found that the more pneumatic dicraeosaurid taxa, with some exceptions, occupy a basal position within Dicraeosauridae. There is some variability in pneumaticity among dicraeosaurids from Gondwana, with Pilmatueia achieving the highest degree of pneumatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abelisaurids are medium–large‐sized theropod dinosaurs that were predominant in the carnivorous fauna during the Late Cretaceous of Gondwana. These predators are abundant in the Cretaceous fossil strata of Patagonia, which yield the best record for this group. In the Late Cretaceous, abelisaurids appear in almost all regions of Gondwana and in all stages, except for the Coniacian, in which they are globally unknown. Here we describe a new abelisaurid, Elemgasem nubilus gen. et sp. nov., from the Portezuelo Formation (Turonian–Coniacian), Patagonia, Argentina. The palaeohistology of the appendicular bones of Elemgasem shows that the holotype was a subadult individual, but had achieved sexual maturity. This taxon is based on several axial and appendicular elements, and is diagnosed by the presence of a marked pattern of rugosity on the lateral surface of the fibula and a dorsoventrally deep lateral wall of the calcaneum. Moreover, the posterior caudal vertebrae have a morphology slightly different from any other abelisaurid. Elemgasem nubilus is recovered as an unstable taxon within Brachyrostra, given that it was recovered as sister taxon of Furileusauria or in several positions within this clade. Despite the problematic phylogenetic relationships of Elemgasem nubilus, it is important because it is the first abelisaurid from the Turonian–Coniacian interval and it increases the diversity of this theropod family at a time of marked turnover in the tetrapod fauna of South America, global climate change, and mass extinction events recorded worldwide in the marine realm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A skeleton discovered in the Upper Cretaceous Sierra Barrosa Formation (Turonian-Coniacian) of Neuquén Province, Argentina represents a new species of theropod dinosaur related to the long snouted, highly pneumatized Megaraptoridae. The holotype specimen of Murusraptor barrosaensis n.gen et n.sp. (MCF-PVPH-411) includes much of the skull, axial skeleton, pelvis and tibia. Murusraptor is unique in having several diagnostic features that include anterodorsal process of lacrimal longer than height of preorbital process, and a thick, shelf-like thickening on the lateral surface of surangular ventral to the groove between the anterior surangular foramen and the insert for the uppermost intramandibular process of the dentary. Other characteristic features of Murusraptor barrosaensis n.gen. et n. sp.include a large mandibular fenestra, distal ends of caudal neural spines laterally thickened into lateral knob-like processes, short ischia distally flattened and slightly expanded dorsoventrally. Murusraptor belongs to a Patagonian radiation of megaraptorids together with Aerosteon, Megaraptor and Orkoraptor. In spite being immature, it is a larger but more gracile animal than existing specimens of Megaraptor, and is comparable in size with Aerosteon and Orkoraptor. The controversial phylogeny of the Megaraptoridae as members of the Allosauroidea or a clade of Coelurosauria is considered analyzing two alternative data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abelisauridae is a theropod clade with a wide distribution in the Late Cretaceous of Gondwana. Some of the best preserved abelisaurid specimens were recovered from Patagonia (Argentina) such as Skorpiovenator , Ilokelesia , Carnotaurus and Aucasaurus. Here we describe a dorsal part of a neural spine; a middle caudal vertebra; a distal part of a left metatarsal IV; a complete right phalanx IV-1; left phalanges IV-1, 2 and 3; and a pedal ungual phalanx. These materials were recovered from the same quarry of a recently published indeterminate abelisaurid specimen (MPCN-PV-69). The most distinctive characters are a triangular shape of the distal end of metatarsal IV (present in other abelisauroids); phalanx IV-1 with the proximal surface dorsoventrally tall and the ventral surface wider than the dorsal one causing a medial tilting of bone (set of features considered autapomorphic in Velocisaurus , although is also present in different abelisaurids); phalanx IV-1 and 2 with a ridge which spans from the proximodorsal projection, splits in two branch and surrounds a laterally displaced and obliquely oriented oval hyperextensor pit; a pedal ungual phalanx with two medial and lateral vascular grooves, and lacking a flexor tubercle (abelisauroids synapomorphies). The mentioned feature of phalanges IV-1 and 2 is only found among abelisaurids and is here considered as a possible new synapomorphy of Abelisauridae. Thus, besides they constitute new abelisaurid remains from Patagonia, the new materials provide valuable morphological data that could expand the diagnosis of Abelisauridae. • New abelisaurid material are described. • Some elements of a recently described abelisaurid were re-interpreted. • Abelisaurid pedal phalanx IV-1 shows a particular morphology. • These new materials provide novel phylogenetic information on Abelisauridae group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]