Early Cretaceous Ornithomimosaurs (dinosauria: Coelurosauria) from Africa

A new genus and species of ornithomimosaur, Afromimus tenerensis, is described based on a fragmentary skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) El Rhaz Formation of Niger. The holotype and only known individual preserves caudal vertebrae, chevrons and portions of the right hind limb. Derived ornithomimosaurian features include the broad, peanut-shaped articular surfaces of mid caudal centra, parasagittal fossae on mid caudal centra for reception of the postzygapophyses of the preceding vertebra, and a raised, subtriangular platform on the ventral aspect of the pedal phalanges. New information is given for, and comparisons made to, Nqwebasaurus thwazi from southern Africa, the oldest and most basal ornithomimosaur. Unlike other coelurosaurian clades that have expansive radiations on northern landmasses, the oldest ornithomimosaur and now another basal form are known from a southern landmass, Africa.