Cristatusaurus: Research Database
Spinosauridae (Theropoda) · Early Cretaceous (~115 MYA) · Africa — Niger (Tigabato Formation)
Research Note: Cristatusaurus was a spinosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous of Niger — an important taxon for understanding spinosaurid evolution and diversity in Africa during the Cretaceous.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Malafaia et al. 2019: Cristatusaurus and new data on spinosaurid diversity from the Cretaceous of Africa
Malafaia et al. 2019 provide comprehensive data on Cristatusaurus from the Early Cretaceous of Niger, establishing it as a spinosaurid and documenting spinosaurid diversity in Africa during the Cretaceous
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Confirmed | A | 2019 | Fossil | Malafaia et al., Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
|
Santos-Cubedo et al. 2023: Additional data on Cristatusaurus and spinosaurid theropods
Santos-Cubedo et al. 2023 provide additional data on Cristatusaurus and related spinosaurids, further contextualising its significance within Spinosauridae
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Confirmed | B | 2023 | Fossil | Santos-Cubedo et al., Scientific Reports | Taxonomy |
Active Debate: Spinosaurid Biogeography in Africa
Whether Cristatusaurus is related to other African spinosaurids or represents a unique lineage is debated. The evolution of spinosaurids in the Cretaceous of Africa — and their relationships to European and South American forms — is key to understanding Cretaceous dinosaur global biogeography.
What We Still Do Not Know About Cristatusaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Diet: Piscivore/carnivore.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Relationships: Partially understood.
In Depth
Cristatusaurus is recorded as a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in Africa during the Cretaceous. Africa has been an important source of spinosauird fossil material, however usually only snouts and teeth, and a few isolated bone fragments are found. Unfortunately, Cristatusaurus is no exception, and at the time of writing only some upper and lower jaw bones, a claw and a handful of vertebrae have been found for the genus. To cast further doubt upon the validity of the genus, some researchers have pointed out that the fossils attributed to Cristatusaurus are really not that different from other early Cretaceous spinosaurid genera such as Baryonyx and Suchomimus. It is for these observations that Cristatusaurus is often listed as a Nomen dubium.
Further Reading
- New data on spinosaurid dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of the Sahara. - Comptes Rendus de l’Acad�mie des Sciences � Paris, Sciences de la Terre et des Plan�tes 327:347-353. - P. Taquet & D. A. Russell - 1998. - The interrelationships and evolution of basal theropod dinosaurs. - Special Papers in Palaeontology 69: 1-213. - O. W. M. Rauhut - 2003.
