In Depth
Kryptops is a little known genus of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in North Africa during the Early Cretaceous. At the time of the original description in 2008, Kryptops was considered to be the most primitive known abelisaurid. Kryptops was described from a partial maxilla (main and posterior tooth bearing bone in the upper jaw) and associated post cranial remains. However, the maxilla was found approximately fifteen meters away from the post cranial remains, which has caused others to speculate that Kryptops may be a fossil ‘chimaera’ with the post cranial fossils belonging to a different theropod.
The Kryptops holotype was found in the Elhraz Formation and another abelisaurid called Eocarcharia is known from this Formation. Other Theropods include Elaphrosaurus and the spinosaur Suchomimus. Possible prey for Kryptops could include the sauropod Nigersaurus and the ornithischians Ouranosaurus and Lurdusaurus.
Further Reading
- Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger. - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53(1):15-46. - P. C. Sereno & S. L. Brusatte - 2008. - The phylogeny of Tetanurae (Dinosauria: Theropoda). - Matthew T. Carrano, Roger B. J. Benson & Scott D. Sampson - 2012.
