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Elasmosaurids are one of the most abundant fossil marine reptile groups identified from the Upper Cretaceous strata of Antarctica. However, the documented record of intact elasmosaurid skull remains is scarce. In this study, we describe the first non-aristonectine elasmosaurid skeleton from Antarctica that preserves an associated lower jaw. This specimen displays a unique character state combination including three symphyseal alveoli, the angle between the mandibular rami exceeding 90°, and the absence of a ventral symphyseal sulcus or keel. This mandibular configuration has not been observed previously among elasmosaurids, prompting comparisons with other described examples and suggesting that mandibular morphology reached a variability peak during the Maastrichtian, which might be reflective of increased trophic diversity.
José Patricio O'Gorman
[joseogorman@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar
], Paula Bona
[paulabona26@gmail.com
], División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n., B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina; CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, CABA, Argentina. Martín de los Reyes
[mdelosreyes@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar
], División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n., B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina; Instituto Antártico Argentino, 25 de Mayo 1143, B1650HMK, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Maria Eugenia Raffi [
eugeniaraffi@gmail.com
] Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, CONICET, Bernardo Houssay 200, Ushuaia, Argentina; Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia, Argentina. Marcelo Reguero
[regui@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar
] División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n., B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina; Instituto Antártico Argentino, 25 de Mayo 1143, B1650HMK, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.