New record of abelisauroid theropods from the Bauru Group (Upper Cretaceous), São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Isolated bones of abelisauroid theropods from the Bauru Group (Late Cretaceous, Brazil), are described. They correspond to three individuals represented by fused ischia and part of the ilium, a partial axis, and a right fi bula, respectively. The fossils come from different sites in the municipalities of Ibir (axis and fi bula) and Monte Alto (ilium and ischia), So Paulo State, from Maastrichtian beds of the So Jos do Rio Preto and the Marlia formations (Bauru Group), respectively. The specimens provide new information on abelisauroids which are still poorly known in the Brazilian fossil record, and on the distribution of this diverse group of theropod dinosaurs in South America. These discoveries indicate that abelisauroids were the most common large predatory dinosaurs in the outcrops where they come from.