Rugops: some questions

[Fabio Marco Dalla Vecchia <fabdalla@tin.it>]

Dear Listmembers,

I tried to contact Jeff Wilson to ask him some questions about _Rugops_,
but I did not receive an answer, perhaps because he is in the field.

I read the press releases regarding _Rugops_ and _Spinostropheus_.
Unfortunately, the paper on the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London
is not available to me and I need to clarify some points that appear
unclear in the press releases.

_Rugops_ is said to be 95 milion years old. So, is it Cenomanian?

Which is the actual paleogeographic meaning of the discovery? South America
and Africa were still in some connection during middle Cretaceous times as
shown by fossils other than Abelisaurids. 
On the other side, Madagascar is supposed to have separated from Africa
much earlier (Late Jurassic) and this would appear the main importance of
the new finds. However, the press did not underline it.

So, might you help me to understand the point?

Thanks in advance

Best,

Fabio M. Dalla Vecchia
-------------------------------
Fabio M. Dalla Vecchia, PhD
Museo Paleontologico Cittadino
Via Valentinis 134
I-34074 Monfalcone
ITALY
http://www.fante.speleo.it