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A partial oviraptorosaur skeleton suggests low caenagnathid diversity in the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia - PubMed Skip to main page content
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. 2021 Jul 12;16(7):e0254564.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254564. eCollection 2021.

A partial oviraptorosaur skeleton suggests low caenagnathid diversity in the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia

Gregory F Funston  1 , Philip J Currie  2 , Chinzorig Tsogtbaatar  3 , Tsogtbaatar Khishigjav  4
Affiliations

A partial oviraptorosaur skeleton suggests low caenagnathid diversity in the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia

Gregory F Funston et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The Nemegt Formation of the Gobi Desert of Mongolia has produced one of the most abundant and diverse oviraptorosaur records globally. However, the caenagnathid component of this fauna remains poorly known. Two caenagnathid taxa are currently recognized from the Nemegt Formation: Elmisaurus rarus and Nomingia gobiensis. Because these taxa are known from mostly non-overlapping material, there are concerns that they could represent the same animal. A partial, weathered caenagnathid skeleton discovered adjacent to the holotype quarry of Nomingia gobiensis is referable to Elmisaurus rarus, revealing more of the morphology of the cranium, mandible, pectoral girdle, and pubis. Despite metatarsals clearly exhibiting autapomorphies of Elmisaurus rarus, overlapping elements are identical to those of Nomingia gobiensis, and add to a growing body of evidence that these taxa represent a single morphotype. In the absence of any positive evidence for two caenagnathid taxa in the Nemegt Formation, Nomingia gobiensis is best regarded as a junior synonym of Elmisaurus rarus. Low caenagnathid diversity in the Nemegt Formation may reflect broader coexistence patterns with other oviraptorosaur families, particularly oviraptorids. In contrast to North America, competition with the exceptionally diverse oviraptorids may have restricted caenagnathids to marginal roles in Late Cretaceous Asian ecosystems.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Location of the Bügiin Tsav locality and “Nomingia gobiensis” type quarry.
A, Topographic of Mongolia showing the Bügiin Tsav region in the Ingenii Höövör Basin. Map data from USGS National Map Viewer (Public Domain). B, Aerial image of Bügiin Tsav looking southeast, showing the site where MPC-D 102/113 was collected, and the orientation of the aerial image (C). C, aerial image of the site of MPC-D 102/113 from above the 2018 Camp site, showing the proximity of the site to the type quarry of “Nomingia gobiensis”. Note single-person tents in bottom right for scale.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Cranial and axial elements of Elmisaurus rarus (MPC-D 102/113).
A–E, Possible right postorbital in presumed lateral (A), anterior (B), medial (C), posterior (D), and ventral (E) views. F, Right angular in lateral view (F) and medial (G) views, with interpretive illustration of Chirostenotes pergracilis (TMP 2001.012.0012) showing the approximate location of the fragment. H, I, Partial cervical neural arch in dorsal (H) and left lateral (I) views, with interpretive illustration of an anterior cervical vertebra of Epichirostenotes pergracilis (ROM 43250) showing the approximate location of the fragment. Abbreviations: cdent, contact groove for dentary; cfrnt?, presumed contact surface for frontal; csq? presumed contact surface for squamosal; fos, fossa; nc, neural canal; prez, prezygapophysis; rdg, ridge; rug, rugosity.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Pectoral girdle of Elmisaurus rarus (MPC-D 102/113).
A, Left scapulocoracoid in lateral view. B, Left scapula in medial view. C, Left coracoid in medial view. Interpretive illustration of Apatoraptor pennatus (TMP 1993.051.0001) shows the approximate locations of the preserved portions. Abbreviations: acr, acromion process; bt, biceps tubercle; corc, coracoid contact; corf, coracoid foramen; glen, glenoid; pvp, posteroventral process; scc, scapular contact.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Partial pubes of Elmisaurus rarus (MPC-D 102/113).
A, B, Left pubis in lateral (A) and medial (B) views. C, Left and right pubes in anterior view. Interpretive illustration of the pubes of “Nomingia gobiensis” (MPC-D 100/119) shows the preserved portions in MPC-D 102/113. Abbreviations: ace, acetabulum; apr, pubic apron; iscc, ischiadic contact; pf, pubic fossa.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Partial astragalus of Elmisaurus rarus (MPC-D 102/113).
A, B, Partial left astragalus in anterior (A) and medial (B) views. Interpretive illustration of “Nomingia gobiensis” (MPC-D 100/119) shows the preserved portion in MPC-D 102/113. Abbreviations: ascp, ascending process; grv, transverse groove.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Pedal elements of Elmisaurus rarus (MPC-D 102/113).
A–E, Proximal end of right metatarsal II in anterior (A), lateral (B), posterior (C), medial (D), and proximal (E) views. F–H, Proximal end of left metatarsal III in anterior (F), posterior (G), and proximal (H) views. I, J, partial shaft of right metatarsal II in lateral (I) and posterior (J) views. K–O, distal end of right metatarsal IV in anterior (K), lateral (L), posterior (M), medial (N), and distal (O) views. Interpretive illustration of tarsometatarsus of Elmisaurus rarus (MPC-D 102/006) shows the preserved regions in MPC-D 102/113. Abbreviations: cMT III, contact surface for metatarsal III; cMT IV, contact surface for metatarsal IV; cndr, condylar ridge; llp, lateral ligament pit; mlp, medial ligament pit; pprt, posterior protuberance.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Additional elements of Elmisaurus rarus (ZPAL MgD I/98) after further preparation.
A, B, Right proximal pubis (left) and ischium (right) in medial (A) and posterior (B) views. C, left and right pubic shafts in posterior view. D, right femur in medial view. E, right tibia shaft in posterior view. Abbreviations: ace, acetabulum; apr, pubic apron; at, anterior trochanter; atc, accessory trochanteric crest; fc, fibular crest; mpl, medially protruding lip; nutf, nutrient foramen; pf, pubic fossa; vh, ventral hook.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Skeletal reconstruction of Elmisaurus rarus.
Skeletal reconstruction of known elements of Elmisaurus rarus, including material referred to “Nomingia gobiensis”. Elements highlighted in red are preserved in MPC-D 102/113.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Grants and funding

Funding to GFF for travel and research in Mongolia was provided by a Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement from NSERC (https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp) and Vanier Canada (https://vanier.gc.ca). GFF is funded by the Royal Society [Grant NIF\R1\191527] (https://royalsociety.org/). PJC is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [Grant RGPIN-2017-04715] (https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.