Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus (Nopcsa, 1900)

Norman, David B., 2015, On the history, osteology, and systematic position of the Wealden (Hastings group) dinosaur Hypselospinus fittoni (Iguanodontia: Styracosterna), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (1), pp. 92-189 : 160

TELMATOSAURUS TRANSSYLVANICUS ( NOPCSA, 1900) – ( WEISHAMPEL, NORMAN & GRIGORESCU, 1993)

Telmatosaurus is represented by an associated, but crushed, skull and partial skeleton (∼ 3 m long) and assorted disarticulated specimens of a hadrosauromorph collected from the Sinpetru-Densus Ciula Formation (Maastrichtian) of the Hateg Basin, Romania.

Teeth and jaws

The dentary crowns are narrow and lenticular with an acutely pointed coronal margin. There appears to be as many as four replacement crowns and two or three worn crowns in the vertical succession. The dentary crowns are curved slightly distally. A median, primary ridge subdivides the enamelled surface but is less prominent than those seen on the maxillary crowns. Some crowns have an accessory ridge near the mesial edge of the crown. The crown margins are denticulate, and the denticles found mesially are buttressed by short enamel ridges. The dentary crowns are also not miniaturized (being approximately twice as broad as those in the maxilla). The dentary ramus is straight and the alveolar region occupies a substantial proportion of its vertical depth. The alveoli extend more posteriorly than the posterior of the coronoid process. The coronoid process is very prominent, rises vertically from the dentary, and has an anteroposteriorly expanded apex. These features differ markedly from those seen in Hy. fittoni .

Axial skeleton

Although not well preserved the axial skeleton exhibits opisthocoelous cervicals as well as dorsals. The neural spines of dorsals and caudals are comparatively short; there is no evidence of thickened articular rims to the dorsal vertebral centra. These features differ from those seen in Hy. fittoni .

Appendicular skeleton

The scapular blade is elongate and flares distally; proximally, the acromion forms a promontory that is in line with the main axis of the scapular blade (rather than being J-shaped as in Hy. fittoni ). The humerus is sigmoid with a prominent deltopectoral crest. The ulna is longer than the humerus and tapers distally, indicating the distal elongation of the forelimb, and a slender, gracile manus was probably present (this contrasts markedly with comparable bones in Hy. fittoni ). The femur is elongate and straight along its entire length. The fourth trochanter is crested, triangular in profile (as in Hy. fittoni ), and positioned on the proximal half of the shaft of the femur. The extensor intercondylar groove is entirely enclosed (in contrast to Hy. fittoni ). The more distal elements of the hindlimb show no particular features beyond those normally associated with mediumsized iguanodontians.