Matheronodon represents a discovery in paleontology, offering unique insights into the diverse forms of life that once roamed ancient Earth. This dinosaur, with its remarkable dental adaptations, highlights the varied evolutionary paths taken by herbivorous dinosaurs. Its existence contributes to our understanding of Late Cretaceous ecosystems and the specialized feeding strategies developed by its inhabitants.
Discovery and Dinosaur Family
Matheronodon provincialis was named in 2017 by paleontologist Pascal Godefroit and his colleagues, following the discovery of its fossilized remains. Initial findings, including a single maxilla (an upper jaw bone) and associated teeth, came from the Grès à Reptiles Formation in southern France. These fossils were unearthed at the Velaux-La Bastide Neuve site in the Bouches-du-Rhône Department.
This dinosaur is classified within the Rhabdodontidae family, a group of ornithopod dinosaurs. Ornithopods were a broad group of herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by their bipedal posture. Rhabdodontids were a successful lineage of ornithopods, common medium-sized herbivores across Late Cretaceous continental environments in Europe.
Appearance and Distinctive Teeth
Matheronodon was a moderately sized dinosaur, with Pascal Godefroit estimating its length at approximately 5 meters (16 feet). While its overall skeletal structure is not fully known, the preserved maxilla provides significant clues about its head and feeding apparatus. This jawbone is short and robust, with a particularly shortened front portion angled upwards.
The most striking feature of Matheronodon is its unique dentition. Unlike many other herbivorous dinosaurs with numerous, small teeth, Matheronodon possessed large, robust teeth, but fewer in number. These teeth were substantial, measuring up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Their arrangement was unusual, emerging alternately from pairs of fused tooth sockets.
These specialized teeth were engineered for a specific purpose. They functioned like self-sharpening, serrated scissors, an adaptation that allowed Matheronodon to cut through tough plant material. This scissoring action was facilitated by a thick enamel layer on only one side of the teeth. As the teeth wore down from chewing, the softer dentine on the opposite side would wear away faster, continuously maintaining a sharp, cutting edge.
Life in Ancient Europe
Given its specialized dental structure, Matheronodon was a herbivore, equipped to process fibrous plant matter. Paleontologists suggest that this dinosaur and its rhabdodontid relatives likely fed on tough-leaved monocot plants, such as the palms Sabalites and Pandanites, abundant in Europe during its time. The robust nature of its teeth allowed it to cut through the sclerenchyma fibers common in these plants, requiring a powerful bite to consume.
Matheronodon lived during the Late Cretaceous period, Campanian age, approximately 70 to 74 million years ago. Its habitat was located in what is now southern France, a region that presented a unique paleoenvironment. The area was a continental deposit, but evidence suggests it was situated close to the ancient shoreline.
Fossils at the Velaux-La Bastide Neuve site indicate a diverse ecosystem. Alongside Matheronodon, other dinosaurs such as the titanosaur Atsinganosaurus, nodosaurid ankylosaurs, and various theropods including neoceratosaurians and dromaeosaurids have been found. Fossilized claws from decapods, gastropods, and unionid mussels further support a coastal, freshwater-influenced environment.