Description of a brand new genus for the mosasaur Gavialimimus

Good news for mosasaur enthusiasts. The Moroccan holotype (MHNM.KHG.1231) has been assigned a new genus after a recent analysis that recognizes this respective individual as distinct enough for the creation of a new taxon.

Dubbed Gavialimimus almaghribensis, the mosasaur could provide an insight at niché divisions for the region.

• As the name suggests, Gavialimimus bears close resemblance in it's snout structure to that of the modern day crocodilian, the Ghavial.

This specie has been united with Goronyosaurus and Selmasaurus given their shared traits including but not limited to; large subtemporal fenestrae, highly retracted nares and a highly elongated, fragile looking snout.

Although the teeth bore close resemblance to Platecarpus ptychodon another mosasaur, an observation that sprouted initial confusion, has now been dismissed.

Checkout the papers:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2020.1818322