An articulated hindlimb of a basal iguanodont (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) from the Early Cretaceous Las Hoyas Lagerstätte (Spain)
Abstract
An isolated, fully articulated hindlimb of a basal iguanodont from the Spanish Las Hoyas Lagerstätte is described. It probably belonged to a juvenile or subadult individual. Despite some slight differences, anatomical features, as well as the late Barremian age of this specimen, would suggest that it belongs to Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis. The exquisite preservation of this specimen provides information on the foot anatomy of basal iguanodonts. This is the first report of a non-theropod dinosaur from Las Hoyas. From a palaeoecological point of view, this discovery indicates that potential prey of the carcharodontosaurian theropod Concavenator were present at Las Hoyas, thus complementing our knowledge of the trophic structure of this Early Cretaceous palaeocommunity