Giganotosaurus carolinii is one of the largest known theropod dinosaurs. Its remains include a well-preserved braincase that displays a suite of derived characters unique to the animal, and others that help establish its relationships amongst the Theropoda. These include the development of a broad frontoparietal skull table that forms a shelf overhanging the supratemporal fenestra, the reorientation of the metotic fissure and fenestra ovalis onto the occiput, the ventral extension of the supraoccipital on either side of the foramen magnum, a broad but low occipital condyle, and pneumatization of the basioccipital. Some characters suggest affinities with South American abelisaurids, but many support a sister grouping of Giganotosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus within a larger group that includes the Asian sinraptorids. The close affinities of Giganotosaurus with the northern African Carcharodontosaurus support the hypothesis of intercontinental connections until mid-Cretaceous times.
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1 December 2002
THE BRAINCASE OF GIGANOTOSAURUS CAROLINII (DINOSAURIA: THEROPODA) FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF ARGENTINA
RODOLFO A. CORIA,
PHILIP J. CURRIE
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Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Vol. 22 • No. 4
December 2002
Vol. 22 • No. 4
December 2002