Crétacé supérieur

The Maastrichtian, Transylvanian giant azhdarchid pterosaur Hatzegopteryx sp. preys on the rhabdodontid iguanodontian Zalmoxes. Because large predatory theropods are unknown on Late Cretaceous Haţeg Island, giant azhdarchids may have played a key role as terrestrial predators in this community.

Reconstruction of Mochlodon suessi from the Late Cretaceous of Austria. Based on Zalmoxes by Scott Hartman

Palaeogeographic distribution of late Early and early Late Cretaceous pterosaur assemblages. Taxonomic composition of assemblages shown on Fig. 1. Palaeogeography based on Smith et al. 1994. Abbreviations: 1. Cambridge Greensand, England: 2. Lower Chalk, England: 3. Züümbayan Svita, Khuren-Dukh, Mongolia: 4. Lysaya Gora, Saratov, Russia: 5. Kem Kem red beds, Morocco: 6. Paw Paw Formation, Texas, USA: 7. Lagarcito Formation, San Luis, Argentina: 8. Santana and Crato Formations, Ceara, Brazil: 9. Toolebuc Formation, Queensland, Australia.

Locality map: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, southern Utah. Map showing the Nipple Butte area (indicated by yellow star) of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). GSENM is bounded by the red rectangle and silhouetted in dark gray on the inset of Utah and surrounding states (modified from [1]). The original map has been modified to show the Nipple Butte area instead of the Machairoceratops fossil locality as in the original source. New location based on map in A New Macrovertebrate Assemblage from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of Southern Utah, page 601.

Psittacosaurus skeletal mount (Early Cretaceous, Jiufotang Formation) and unidentified Late Cretaceous dinosaur egg from Xixia, Hennan, on display in the Li Siguang Memorial Museum in Huangzhou.

Holotype of Khunnuchelys lophorhothon sp. nov. from Baybishe, northeastern Aral Sea region, Kazakhstan, Bostobe Formation, Santonian–early Campanian, Late Cretaceous, ZIN PH 5/55, a partial skull; in dorsal (A), ventral (B), lateral (C), and anterior (D) views. Photographs (A1–D1), explanatory drawings (A2–D2).

World map showing Late Cretaceous metatherian locales. Europe 1. Font-de-Benon quarry, Archingeay-Les Nouillers (Cenomanian, Late Cretaceous), Charente-Maritime, southwestern France (Vullo et al. 2009) 2. Valkenburg Member, Maastricht Formation (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous), southern Limburg, The Netherlands (Martin et al. 2005) Asia 3. Yixian Formation, China (Barremian, Early Cretaceous) 4. Bissekty Formation, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan (Turonian, Late Cretaceous) 5. Darbasa Formation, southern Kazakhstan (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 6. Grey Mesa locality (Averianov 1997) 7. Barun Goyot Formation, Umuni Gobi, Mongolia (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 8. Nemegt Formation, Omnogov, Mongolia (Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 9. Djadokhta Formation, Mongolia (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) North America Alaska 9. Prince Creek Formation, Alaska (early Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada 10. Milk River Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (late Santonian, Late Cretaceous) 11. Oldman Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 12. Dinosaur Park Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 13. Horseshoe Canyon Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (early Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 14. St. Mary River Formation, Alberta and northwestern Montana (early Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 15. Scollard Formation, Alberta (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 16. Frenchman Formation, Saskatchewan (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Montana and North Dakota 17. Judith River Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 18. Two Medicine Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 19. Hell Creek Formation, Montana and North Dakota (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) South Dakota 20. Fox Hills Formation, South Dakota (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 21. Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Wyoming 22. “Mesa Verde Formation” (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 23. Lance Formation, Wyoming (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 24. Ferris Formation, Wyoming (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Utah 25. Cedar Mountain Formation (Albian-Cenomanian) 26. Dakota Formation fauna (late Cenomanian, Late Cretaceous) 27. Smoky Hollow Member, Straight Cliffs Formation (Turonian, Late Cretaceous) 28. John Henry Member, Straight Cliffs Formation (Coniacian-Santonian, Late Cretaceous) 29. Wahweap Formation (early-middle Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 30. Kaiparowits Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 31. Iron Springs Formation fauna, southern Utah (Turonian – Santonian, Late Cretaceous) 32. North Horn Formation, Utah (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Colorado 33. Williams Fork Formation, Colorado (late Campanian-early Maastrichtian) 34. Laramie Formation, northeastern Colorado (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Baja California Del Norte, Mexico 35. El Gallo Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) (Clemens 1980; Lillegraven 1972; Lillegraven 1976) New Mexico 36. Fruitland and lower Kirtland Formation, San Juan Basin (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 37. Naashoibito Member, Kirtland Formation, New Mexico (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Oklahoma 38. Antlers Formation, Texas and Oklahoma (Aptian-Albian, Early Cretaceous) Texas 39. Aguja Formation, West Texas (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) New Jersey 40. Marshalltown Formation, New Jersey (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) Szalay 1994)

World map showing Late Cretaceous metatherian locales. Europe 1. Font-de-Benon quarry, Archingeay-Les Nouillers (Cenomanian, Late Cretaceous), Charente-Maritime, southwestern France (Vullo et al. 2009) 2. Valkenburg Member, Maastricht Formation (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous), southern Limburg, The Netherlands (Martin et al. 2005) Asia 3. Yixian Formation, China (Barremian, Early Cretaceous) 4. Bissekty Formation, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan (Turonian, Late Cretaceous) 5. Darbasa Formation, southern Kazakhstan (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 6. Grey Mesa locality (Averianov 1997) 7. Barun Goyot Formation, Umuni Gobi, Mongolia (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 8. Nemegt Formation, Omnogov, Mongolia (Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 9. Djadokhta Formation, Mongolia (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) North America Alaska 9. Prince Creek Formation, Alaska (early Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada 10. Milk River Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (late Santonian, Late Cretaceous) 11. Oldman Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 12. Dinosaur Park Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 13. Horseshoe Canyon Formation, southern Alberta, Canada (early Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 14. St. Mary River Formation, Alberta and northwestern Montana (early Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 15. Scollard Formation, Alberta (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 16. Frenchman Formation, Saskatchewan (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Montana and North Dakota 17. Judith River Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 18. Two Medicine Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 19. Hell Creek Formation, Montana and North Dakota (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) South Dakota 20. Fox Hills Formation, South Dakota (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 21. Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Wyoming 22. “Mesa Verde Formation” (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 23. Lance Formation, Wyoming (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) 24. Ferris Formation, Wyoming (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Utah 25. Cedar Mountain Formation (Albian-Cenomanian) 26. Dakota Formation fauna (late Cenomanian, Late Cretaceous) 27. Smoky Hollow Member, Straight Cliffs Formation (Turonian, Late Cretaceous) 28. John Henry Member, Straight Cliffs Formation (Coniacian-Santonian, Late Cretaceous) 29. Wahweap Formation (early-middle Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 30. Kaiparowits Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 31. Iron Springs Formation fauna, southern Utah (Turonian – Santonian, Late Cretaceous) 32. North Horn Formation, Utah (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Colorado 33. Williams Fork Formation, Colorado (late Campanian-early Maastrichtian) 34. Laramie Formation, northeastern Colorado (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Baja California Del Norte, Mexico 35. El Gallo Formation (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) (Clemens 1980; Lillegraven 1972; Lillegraven 1976) New Mexico 36. Fruitland and lower Kirtland Formation, San Juan Basin (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) 37. Naashoibito Member, Kirtland Formation, New Mexico (late Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous) Oklahoma 38. Antlers Formation, Texas and Oklahoma (Aptian-Albian, Early Cretaceous) Texas 39. Aguja Formation, West Texas (late Campanian, Late Cretaceous) New Jersey 40. Marshalltown Formation, New Jersey (Campanian, Late Cretaceous) Szalay 1994)

A broken concretion with fossils inside; Late Cretaceous Pierre shale, near Ekalaka, Montana.

Map of Cretaceous-aged dinosaur fossil localities of Mongolia. Gobihadros mongoliensis was collected from Bayshin Tsav in Area C. Open squares indicate Late Cretaceous sites, solid squares represent Early Cretaceous localities. Abbreviations: A, Localities of Western Gobi Desert in Mongolia, mainly group of localities of Nemegtian age (early Maastrichtian), Late Cretaceous; B, Localities of Central Gobi Desert in Mongolia, mainly Djadokhtian age (Campanian), Late Cretaceous; C & D- Localities of Eastern Gobi Desert in Mongolia, mainly Baynshirenian age (Cenomanian-Santonian), Late Cretaceous. Figure has been modified from Tsogtbaatar et al. 2014, Figure 1 [24].

Thescelosaurus neglectus, a hypsilophodont from the Late cretaceous of North America

Crâne de mosasaure d'espèce Platecarpus tympaniticus (squamates, mosasaures). Provenance : Smoky Hill Chalk, Kansas (aux Etats-Unis). Date : Crétacé supérieur, période du Campanien, 88 millions d'années avant notre ère. Collections du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris (France). Exposé à l'occasion de l'exposition "Un T-Rex à Paris" au Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris (France) du 6 juin au 2 septembre 2018. Légende du fossile dans cette exposition : "Les mosasaures ne sont pas des dinosaures mais des reptiles marins, très répandus à la fin du Crétacé. Certains genres comme Globidens et Halisaurus sont connus aussi bien aux Etats-Unis qu'au Maroc. Ces animaux étaient d'excellents nageurs, capables de traverser l'Atlantique."

Muzquizopteryx coahuilensis (Familyː Nyctosauridae) is a species of nyctosaurid pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous period (early Coniacian stage) of what is now Coahuila, Mexico.

Alvarezsauroid theropod Linhenykus monodactylus Xu, Sullivan, Pittman, Choiniere, Hone, Upchurch, Tan, Xiao, Tan, and Han, 2011a, Bayan Mandahu (“Gate Locality”), Late Cretaceous (Campanian), holo−type (IVPP V17608). Skeletal silhouette showing preserved bones (missing portions shown in grey).

Line diagram of the holotype specimen (ZPAL MgD-I/117) of the protoceratopsid Breviceratops kozlowskii. Based on Maryańska & Osmólska 1975,[1] and Czepiński 2019.[2] References ↑ (1975). "Protoceratopsidae (Dinosauria) of Asia". Palaeontologia Polonica 33: 134−143. Archived from the original on 2018-09-21. Retrieved on 2021-07-25. ↑ (2019). "Ontogeny and variation of a protoceratopsid dinosaur Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert". Historical Biology: 1−28. DOI:10.1080/08912963.2019.1593404. Archived from the original on 2021-07-08. Retrieved on 2021-07-25.

Comparison of cranial features between closely related southern Laramidian taxa; (A), Akainacephalus johnsoni (UMNH VP 20202) from the Late Cretaceous Kaiparowits Formation of Utah; and (B), Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis (SMP VP-900) from the Late Cretaceous Kirtland Formation of New Mexico, in left lateral views. Various synapomorphies are shared with N. kirtlandensis (highlighted in black and white arrows) and includes “flaring nostrils”; enlarged, laterally projecting, loreal osteoderms that are situated directly dorsal to the external nares. Other synapomorphies include pyramid-shaped nasal and frontal osteoderms positioned on the dorsal regions of the skull. A number of significant differences have been observed between both specimens; in A. johnsoni, the anterior, and posterior supraorbital bosses form an enlarged element that is somewhat backswept, whereas in N. kirtlandensis, the posterior and anterior supraorbital bosses are clearly defined as individual osteoderms, and are much smaller in size. Additionally, the squamosal horn in Akainacephalus is very small but is prominent and tetrahedrally shaped in Nodocephalosaurus. The quadratojugal horn in Akainacephalus is massive, has a subtriangular morphology in lateral view and projects almost entirely ventral, whereas in Nodocephalosaurus, the quadratojugal horn is smaller and has a typical fin-shaped morphology. Study sites: asob, anterior supraorbital boss; ext naris, external naris; laca, lacrimal caputegulum; loca, loreal caputegulum; naca, nasal caputegulae; orb, orbit; psob, posterior supraorbital boss; qjh, quadratojugal horn; sqh, squamosal horn.