The first duckbill dinosaur (Hadrosauridae: Lambeosaurinae) from Africa and the role of oceanic dispersal in dinosaur biogeography

摘要: Abstract The Late Cretaceous saw distinctly endemic dinosaur faunas evolve in the northern and southern hemispheres. Laurasian continents of North America Asia were dominated by hadrosaurid ceratopsian ornithischians, with tyrannosaurs as apex predators. In Gondwanan communities, including Africa, South America, India Madagascar, titanosaurian sauropods herbivores abelisaurids These patterns are thought to be driven breakup Pangaea formation seaways limiting dispersal. Here, we report a new lambeosaurine hadrosaurid, Ajnabia odysseus gen. et sp. nov., from upper Maastrichtian Morocco, first representative clade formerly restricted Laurasia. animal shows features unique Hadrosauridae specifically Lambeosaurinae. Phylogenetic analysis recovers it within Arenysaurini, lambeosaurines previously known only Europe. Biogeographic modelling that dispersed Europe, then Africa. Given existence large, persistent isolating Africa Europe other continents, absence extensive, bidirectional interchange characterizing land bridges, these suggest dispersals across marine barriers, similar those seen Cenozoic mammals, reptiles, amphibians. Dispersal barriers also occurs lineages sauropods, suggesting oceanic dispersal played key role structuring Mesozoic terrestrial faunas.