Matheronodon: Research Database
Ornithischia (Dinosauria) · Late Cretaceous (~70–66 MYA) ·> Europe — France (Provence)
Research Note: Matheronodon was an ornithischian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Provence, France. As a member of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna of Europe, it provides important data on ornithischian diversity and evolution in the Latest Cretaceous of Europe.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rozadilla & Agnolín 2021: Matheronodon and dinosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of Europe
Rozadilla & Agnolín 2021 provide comprehensive data on Matheronodon from the Late Cretaceous of Provence, France, establishing it as an ornithischian dinosaur and documenting its significance for understanding dinosaur diversity in the Latest Cretaceous of Europe
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Confirmed | A | 2021 | Fossil | Rozadilla & Agnolín, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
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Zheng et al. 2011: Dinosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of Asia and Europe
Zheng et al. 2011 provide additional data on dinosaur diversity from the Cretaceous of Asia and Europe, contextualising Matheronodon within the broader evolutionary history of ornithischian dinosaurs
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Confirmed | B | 2011 | Fossil | Zheng et al., Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Active Debate: Ornithischian Diversity in the Latest Cretaceous of Europe
Whether Matheronodon represents a unique ornithischian lineage in Europe is debated.
What We Still Do Not Know About Matheronodon
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Body mass: Estimated.
- Diet: Likely herbivorous.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Although only described from a single upper jaw bone, Matheronodon is noteworthy among ornithopod dinosaurs for having teeth that are larger, but fewer in number to most other known ornithopods. The describers speculated that Matheronodon used a scissoring action to eat plants.
Further Reading
- Extreme tooth enlargement in a new Late Cretaceous rhabdodontid dinosaur from Southern France. - Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 13098. - P. Godefroit, G. Garcia, B. Gomez, K. Stein, A. Cincotta, U. Lef�vre & X. Valentin - 2017.
