Redescription
of the holotype of Dryptosaurus aquilunguis (Dinosauria:
Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of New Jersey.
Kenneth
Carpenter, Dale A. Russell, Donald Baird, and R. Denton, Journal
of Vertebrate Paleontology, 1997, 17(3):561-573
The
skeleton of the enigmatic theropod Dryptosaurus aquilunguis
is redescribed in light of the many new theropods named since Cope's
original description in 1866. Unfortunately, the fragmentary nature
of the single known skeleton makes comparison with other theropods
difficult. Historically, Dryptosaurus has been placed, at
one time or another, in the theropod families Coeluridae, Deinodontidae,
Megalosauridae, Tyrannosauridae, and its own family, Dryptosauridae.
Most of these assignments have been based upon superficial resemblances
to various members of those families. Reexamination of the specimen
indicates the presence of unique serrations on the maxillary teeth,
a large ungual/humeral ratio, the probable presence of a high, centrally
located ascending process on the astragalus, and a non-arctometatarsal.
These features indicate that Dryptosaurus is a unique theropod
and should be placed in its own family, Dryptosauridae.
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