On the occurrence of Carentonosaurus Rage and Néraudeau, 2004 (Squamata, Pythonomorpha) in the Iberian Cretaceous, with description of a new species from the uppermost middle Cenomanian of West Portugal

Abstract

Several vertebrae were recently collected in paralic facies with fossil assemblages of late middle Cenomanian age, outcropping in the basal carbonate platform sequence of Casais dos Carecos, near Coimbra (West Portugal). These fossil remains are exceptionally well preserved, with fragile elements still present. They correspond to cervical and dorsal vertebrae, including a juvenile cervical vertebra. The general morphology, features and size of the dorsal vertebrae are close to those described and figured for the holotype of Carentonosaurus mineaui Rage and Néraudeau, 2004, but showing distinct lateral and subcentral foramina, neural spine with longitudinal grooves and displaying a sagittal furrow along the ventral surface, which are absent in this genotype. The centrum shows a subtriangular shape in ventral view, with concave borders. These different morphological features of the fossil remains here presented allow the description of Carentonosaurus soaresi sp. nov. This new material improves the knowledge of the representatives of Carentonosaurus and extends the biogeographical distribution of this genus of Pythonomorpha to the western margin of the Iberian Peninsula.