Theropod dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic (Bajocian–Bathonian) of Skye, Scotland

摘要: The Isle of Skye, Scotland, has yielded a diverse Middle Jurassic terrestrial vertebrate fauna, but little is known about the predatory dinosaurs (theropods) occupying top and secondary carnivore roles in these ecosystems, as their fossils have been limited to rare footprints small- mid-sized taxa. We describe two isolated theropod body fossils, tooth middle-posterior caudal vertebra, from late Bajocian–Bathonian Valtos Sandstone Formation northeastern use variety quantitative techniques determine taxonomic affinities. conservatively refer both specimens Theropoda indet., suggest that most likely belonged megalosaurid, basal tyrannosauroid, or dromaeosaurid, vertebra small-bodied coelurosaur approximately same size Coelurus ( c . 2 m long, 30 kg mass). Although fragmentary, demonstrate small mid large theropods were present may included some oldest coelurosaurs, potentially earliest-diverging tyrannosauroids dromaeosaurids. Supplementary material Skye Theropod Tooth: Data Analyses are available at www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18866