New troodontid in PLoS ONE

["Andrew A. Farke" <afarke@gmail.com>]

Geminiraptor suarezarum, from the Cedar Mountain Formation, was just 
published in PLoS ONE. I would encourage those who are interested to 
register at the website and comment on the paper there!

Best,

Andy

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Senter P, Kirkland JI, Bird J, Bartlett JA (2010) A New Troodontid 
Theropod Dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Utah. PLoS ONE 5(12): 
e14329. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0014329

Freely downloadable at:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0014329

Abstract
Background
The theropod dinosaur family Troodontidae is known from the Upper 
Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous, and Upper Cretaceous of Asia and from the 
Upper Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous of North America. Before now no 
undisputed troodontids from North America have been reported from the 
Early Cretaceous.

Methodology/Principal Findings
Herein we describe a theropod maxilla from the Lower Cretaceous Cedar 
Mountain Formation of Utah and perform a phylogenetic analysis to 
determine its phylogenetic position. The specimen is distinctive enough 
to assign to a new genus and species, Geminiraptor suarezarum. 
Phylogenetic analysis places G. suarezarum within Troodontidae in an 
unresolved polytomy with Mei, Byronosaurus, Sinornithoides, Sinusonasus, 
and Troodon + (Saurornithoides + Zanabazar). Geminiraptor suarezarum 
uniquely exhibits extreme pneumatic inflation of the maxilla internal to 
the antorbital fossa such that the anterior maxilla has a triangular 
cross-section. Unlike troodontids more closely related to Troodon, G. 
suarezarum exhibits bony septa between the dental alveoli and a 
promaxillary foramen that is visible in lateral view.

Conclusions/Significance
This is the first report of a North American troodontid from the Lower 
Cretaceous. It therefore contributes to a fuller understanding of 
troodontid biogeography through time. It also adds to the known 
dinosaurian fauna of the Cedar Mountain Formation.