Enigmatic teeth of small theropod dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Turonian) of Uzbekistan

Abstract

Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Turonian) formations in the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan, especially the Bissekty Formation at Dzharakuduk, have yielded a great diversity of continental vertebrates, including dinosaurs. Underwater screening of the sandy matrix has recovered many dinosaurian teeth. Here we describe and illustrate two types of enigmatic theropod teeth that are referable to Paronychodon and Richardoestesia, respectively. Both of these tooth taxa are well known from the Late Cretaceous of North America and possibly represent stages in the development of the teeth of various paravian theropods. Confirmation of this hypothesis awaits discovery of more complete jaws.