Aublysodon, Leidy, 1868

Currie, P. J., 1987, Theropods of the Judith River Formation of dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada, Fourth Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems, Drumheller, Alberta: Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, pp. 51-60 : 54

At least three species of Tyrannosauridae seem to have lived in the area now known as Dinosaur Provincial Park. The first is a gracile tyrannosaurid ( Fig. 1f ) with a relatively long, narrow frontal. Isolated teeth identified as Aublysodon

are the premaxillary teeth of a small tyrannosaurid. They are relatively common, and can be distinguished from the teeth of juvenile specimens of large tyrannosaurids by their lack of serrations and more gracile appearance. Gracile, small maxillary and dentary teeth with serrations have also been identified as a small, Judithian tyrannosaurid. It would appear that a Lancian theropod described by Molnar (1978) is in fact a small tyrannosaurid, and that this animal is the same as the tooth genus Aublysodon (K. Carpenter and R.E. Molnar, personal communication, 1986). It seems possible then that TMP 80.16.485 ( Fig. 1f ) is Aublysodon or a closely related genus. It is conceivable that further preparation and study of the type specimen or Gorgosaurus sternbergi ( AMNH 5664 , Matthew and Brown 1923) will reveal that this is a valid species, and that this is the source of the aublysodont teeth.

Figures

FIG. 1 Theropod frontals from Dinosaur Provincial Park. (a) Troodon formosus. TMP 86.49. 10; (b) Dromicelomimus samueli, TMP 85.56.62; (c) cf. Erilcosaurus sp., NMC 12355; (d) Saurornitholestes langstoni, TMP 86. 77. 57; (e) Dromaeosaurus albertensis, NMC 12349, AMNH 5356; (f) cf. Aublysodon sp., TMP 80.16.485; (g) cf. Gorgosaurus libratus, TMP 80.16.924; (h) Daspletosaurus torosus (after Russell. 1970). (1) Caudal limit of dorsalateral exposure of the lacrimal; (2) caudal limit of orbital rim; (3) caudal limit of postorbital suture; (4) lacrimal slot; (5) Postorbital buttress. Scale= 1cm.