Allosaurus hatchling maxilla with digestion corrosion marks from Upper Jurassic of Portugal
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Ben Creisler
Jun 8, 2026, 11:44:28 AM (yesterday) Jun 8
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Ben Creisler
A new paper:
Elisabete Malafaia, Bruno Maggia & Oliver W.M. Rauhut (2026)
Digestion corrosion marks on a hatchling Allosaurus (Dinosauria, Theropoda) maxilla from the Upper Jurassic of Guimarota (Leiria, Portugal)
Papers in Palaeontology 12(3): e70100
doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70100
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.70100
In this study we describe a corrosion pattern, interpreted as having been produced by digestion, on a hatchling Allosaurus maxilla from the former Guimarota coal mine fossil site. This site, located near Leiria in the west-central region of Portugal, is recognized as one of the most significant Upper Jurassic microvertebrate fossil localities worldwide. It is particularly renowned for its abundant and diverse fossil record of early mammalians, but a wide array of other vertebrates, including theropod dinosaurs, were also collected. The maxilla bears teeth that have been heavily corroded on the crowns, above the gum line, whereas the rest of the bone shows no signs of corrosion, suggesting a regurgitated partially digested animal. This represents the first record of a partially digested theropod fossil from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal and one of the few non-avian dinosaur specimens with such marks documented worldwide. Based on the fossil record from Guimarota and the observed corrosion pattern and preservation of the specimen, we suggest that the most likely consumer responsible for these marks was probably a non-avian theropod, although a pterosaur or crocodyliform producer also cannot be completely excluded. This study emphasizes that similar corrosion patterns may be more common in the Mesozoic fossil record than previously recognized and, when considered alongside additional evidence (e.g. fossil disarticulation and taphocenoses), can provide valuable insights into trophic interactions and ecosystem dynamics in ancient environments.
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Elisabete Malafaia, Bruno Maggia & Oliver W.M. Rauhut (2026)
Digestion corrosion marks on a hatchling Allosaurus (Dinosauria, Theropoda) maxilla from the Upper Jurassic of Guimarota (Leiria, Portugal)
Papers in Palaeontology 12(3): e70100
doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70100
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.70100
In this study we describe a corrosion pattern, interpreted as having been produced by digestion, on a hatchling Allosaurus maxilla from the former Guimarota coal mine fossil site. This site, located near Leiria in the west-central region of Portugal, is recognized as one of the most significant Upper Jurassic microvertebrate fossil localities worldwide. It is particularly renowned for its abundant and diverse fossil record of early mammalians, but a wide array of other vertebrates, including theropod dinosaurs, were also collected. The maxilla bears teeth that have been heavily corroded on the crowns, above the gum line, whereas the rest of the bone shows no signs of corrosion, suggesting a regurgitated partially digested animal. This represents the first record of a partially digested theropod fossil from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal and one of the few non-avian dinosaur specimens with such marks documented worldwide. Based on the fossil record from Guimarota and the observed corrosion pattern and preservation of the specimen, we suggest that the most likely consumer responsible for these marks was probably a non-avian theropod, although a pterosaur or crocodyliform producer also cannot be completely excluded. This study emphasizes that similar corrosion patterns may be more common in the Mesozoic fossil record than previously recognized and, when considered alongside additional evidence (e.g. fossil disarticulation and taphocenoses), can provide valuable insights into trophic interactions and ecosystem dynamics in ancient environments.
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