New giant theropod material from the Kem Kem Compound Assemblage (Morocco) with implications on the diversity of the mid-Cretaceous carcharodontosaurids from North Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ‘Kem Kem Compound Assemblage’ (KKCA) along the Algerian-Moroccan border is a series of fossiliferous localities, Cenomanian in age, particularly rich in large-bodied theropod dinosaurs. Two species of carcharodontosaurid allosauroids have been identified in these units, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus and Sauroniops pachytholus. Recently, the validity of the second species has been challenged, and all carcharodontosaurid material from the KKCA has been referred uniquely to the former species. Here, we describe a new theropod cranial material from the KKCA which is referred to Carcharodontosauridae, including one partial maxilla which shows a morphology distinct from that of C. saharicus. We review the arguments used to interpret Sauroniops holotype as an immature individual of Carcharodontosaurus and show that they were based on non-homologous comparisons and on the misinterpretation of the original description of S. pachytholus: The latter is confirmed to be a valid taxon, distinct from C. saharicus and with an inferred body size comparable to the largest carcharodontosaurids. The presence of more than one giant carcharodontosaurid species in the Cenomanian of Morocco recalls the carcharodontosaurid diversity from penecontemporary units from Argentina.