View source for Rugops

{{Short description|Genus of dinosaur}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{speciesbox
| fossil_range = [[Late Cretaceous]], {{fossilrange|95}}
| image = Rugops skull.jpg
| image_caption = Restored skull
| genus = Rugops
| parent_authority = [[Paul Sereno|Sereno]] ''et al.'' [[2004 in paleontology|2004]]
| species = primus
| authority = Sereno ''et al.'' 2004
}}
'''''Rugops''''' (meaning ‘wrinkle face’) is a [[monospecific]] [[genus]] of basal [[Abelisauridae|abelisaurid]] [[theropod]] [[dinosaur]] from [[Niger]] that lived during the [[Late Cretaceous]] period ([[Cenomanian]] stage, ~95 Ma) in what is now the [[Echkar Formation]]. The type and only species, '''''Rugops primus''''', is known only from a partial [[skull]]. It was named and described in [[2004_in_paleontology|2004]] by [[Paul Sereno]], [[Jeffrey A. Wilson|Jeffery Wilson]] and Jack Conrad. ''Rugops'' has an estimated length of {{convert|4.4|-|5.3|m}} and weight of {{convert|410|kg}}. The top of its skull bears several pits which correlates with overlaying scale and the front of the snout would have had an armour-like dermis.
==Discovery and naming==
[[File:Rugops_primus.jpeg|thumb|left|260px|Skeletal diagram of the holotype and only known specimen: MNN IGU1]]
A skull pertaining to an [[abelisauridae|abelisaurid]] was recovered during an expedition in 2000 led by [[Paul Sereno]] near In-Abangharit, [[Niger|Niger Republic]].<ref name="Sereno2004">{{Cite journal |last1=Sereno |first1=Paul C. |author-link=Paul Sereno |last2=Wilson |first2=Jeffrey A. |last3=Conrad |first3=Jack L. |date=July 7, 2004 |title=New dinosaurs link southern landmasses in the Mid-Cretaceous |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=271 |issue=1546 |pages=1325–1330 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2004.2692 |issn=0962-8452 |pmc=1691741 |pmid=15306329}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2004/june/rugops.htm|title=Rugops, new dinosaur find from Africa give clues to continents' split|date=July 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060724101122/http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2004/june/rugops.htm|archive-date=July 24, 2006}}</ref> The specimen came from the [[Echkar Formation]] of the Tegama Group which dates to the [[Cenomanian]] stage of the [[Late Cretaceous]] period, 96 Ma. The formation has also yielded specimens pertaining to the [[carcharodontosaurid]] ''[[Carcharodontosaurus|Carcharodontosaurus iguidensis]]'',<ref name="brusatte&sereno2007">[[Stephen L. Brusatte|Brusatte, S.L.]] and Sereno, P.C. (2007). "A new species of ''Carcharodontosaurus'' (dinosauria: theropoda) from the Cenomanian of Niger and a revision of the genus." ''Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology'', '''27'''(4): .</ref> the [[spinosaurid]] ''[[Spinosaurus]]'',<ref name="Sereno2004"/> an unnamed [[rebbachisaurid]] and [[titanosaur]],<ref name="Sereno2004"/> and the [[crocodylomorphs]] ''[[Fortignathus]]'',<ref name="Young2016">{{Cite journal|last1=Young|first1=Mark T.|last2=Hastings|first2=Alexander K.|last3=Allain|first3=Ronan|last4=Smith|first4=Thomas J.|date=July 2016|title=Revision of the enigmatic crocodyliform ''Elosuchus felixi'' de Lapparent de Broin, 2002 from the Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary of Niger: potential evidence for an early origin of the clade Dyrosauridae|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|doi=10.1111/zoj.12452|issn=0024-4082|doi-access=free}}</ref> ''[[Laganosuchus]]'' and ''[[Kaprosuchus]]''.<ref name="SL09">{{Cite journal |last1=Sereno |first1=Paul |last2=Larsson |first2=Hans |date=November 19, 2009 |title=Cretaceous Crocodyliforms from the Sahara |journal=ZooKeys |issue=28 |pages=1–143 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.28.325 |issn=1313-2970|doi-access=free |bibcode=2009ZooK...28....1S }}</ref> The specimen was described in 2004 by Paul Sereno, Jeffery Wilson and Jack Conrad. The [[holotype]] specimen, MNN IGU1, consists of a partial skull which lacks portions of the [[palate]] and [[skull roof]].<ref name="Sereno2004"/> The type specimen may represent a subadult individual based on its small size, the lack of fusion between the [[Nasal bone|nasals]] and the presence of the [[fenestra]] between the [[Prefrontal bone|prefrontal]], [[Frontal bone|frontal]], [[Postorbital bone|postorbital]] and [[Lacrimal bone|lacrimal bones]].<ref name="Carrano2008"/>
The [[genus|generic]] name, ''Rugops'', is derived from the [[Latin]] word "''ruga''" (wrinkle) and the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] word "''opsi''" (face). The [[species|specific]] name is derived from the Latin word "''primus''" (first). Both the generic and specific name refer to ''Rugops'' as being one of the earliest abelisaurids with a textured skull.<ref name="Sereno2004"/>
In 2005, a partial right [[maxilla]] of an abelisaurid was described from the [[Kem Kem Group]] of [[Morocco]]. The maxilla shares some similarities with ''Rugops'' such as with the morphology of the teeth, the shape of the alveolar, the rugose texture on the lateral sides, the straight border with the [[premaxilla]], and the position of the palatal shelf.<ref name="mahler2005">{{cite journal | doi = 10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0236:ROADTF]2.0.CO;2 | last1 = Mahler | first1 = L. | year = 2005 | title = Record of Abelisauridae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian of Morocco | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 25 | issue = 1| pages = 236–239 | s2cid = 4974444 }}</ref> However, the maxilla cannot be referred to ''Rugops'' as the diagnostic features of the genus are located on different parts of the skull.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Nizar |author-link1=Nizar Ibrahim |last2=Sereno |first2=Paul C. |author-link2=Paul Sereno |last3=Varricchio |first3=David J. |last4=Martill |first4=David M. |last5=Dutheil |first5=Didier B. |last6=Unwin |first6=David M. |last7=Baidder |first7=Lahssen |last8=Larsson |first8=Hans C. E. |last9=Zouhri |first9=Samir |last10=Kaoukaya |first10=Abdelhadi |date=April 21, 2020 |title=Geology and paleontology of the Upper Cretaceous Kem Kem Group of eastern Morocco |url=https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/47517/ |journal=ZooKeys |language=en |issue=928 |pages=1–216 |bibcode=2020ZooK..928....1I |doi=10.3897/zookeys.928.47517 |issn=1313-2970 |pmc=7188693 |pmid=32362741 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
== Description ==
[[File:Rugops primus scale diagram.jpg|thumb|left|Size compared to a human]]
In 2010, Sereno gave ''Rugops'' an estimated length of {{convert|6|m}} and weight of {{convert|750|kg}}.<ref>[[Gregory S. Paul|Paul, G.S.]], 2010, ''The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs'', Princeton University Press p. 79</ref> However, Grillo & Delcourt (2016) gave a lower estimate of {{convert|4.4|m}} long while Molina-Pérez & Larramendi (2016) gave an estimate of {{convert|5.3|m}} long and {{convert|410|kg}} in weight.<ref>{{cite journal |last1 = Grillo | first1 = O. N. | last2 = Delcourt | first2 = R. |date = 2016 | title = Allometry and body length of abelisauroid theropods: ''Pycnonemosaurus nevesi'' is the new king | journal = Cretaceous Research | volume = 69 | pages = 71–89 | doi = 10.1016/j.cretres.2016.09.001| bibcode = 2017CrRes..69...71G }}</ref><ref>Molina-Pérez & Larramendi 2016. ''Récords y curiosidades de los dinosaurios Terópodos y otros dinosauromorfos'', Larousse. Barcelona, Spain p. 256</ref>
===Skull===
[[File:Rugops maxilla.jpg|thumb|right|Skull diagram and holotype [[maxilla]]]]
The skull length of ''Rugops'' was about {{convert|31.5|cm}}.<ref name="Sereno2004"/> As in other abelisaurids, the skull of ''Rugops'' has an external surface that is textured, a dental arcade that is U-shaped, maxillary-jugal contact that is broad, the presence of a socket on the [[maxilla]] and [[Dental alveolus|alveoli]] that are subrectangular in shape. The [[Orbit (anatomy)|orbital]] brow is present on the skull, although it is not fully formed. Many of the bones that make up the skull have slender proportions. In addition, the skull also has relatively thin [[Nasal bone|nasals]] and skull [[fenestra]]e that are proportionally large. The upper surface of each nasal bone has a row of several depressions with grooves for vascular supply going into them.<ref name="Sereno2004"/> A similar condition is seen in ''[[Carnotaurus]]'', although the upper surface of the nasals is convex unlike ''Rugops'', as it is concave.<ref name="Carrano2008">{{Cite journal|last1=Carrano|first1=Matthew T.|last2=Sampson|first2=Scott D.|s2cid=30068953|date=January 1, 2008|title=The Phylogeny of Ceratosauria (Dinosauria: Theropoda)|journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology|volume=6|issue=2|pages=183–236|doi=10.1017/S1477201907002246|bibcode=2008JSPal...6..183C |issn=1477-2019}}</ref> Sereno ''et al.'' (2004) suggested that the depressions on the dorsal surface of each nasal anchored either sensory structures or soft tissues for display.<ref name="Sereno2004"/> Delcourt (2018), however, interpreted that they correlate with overlying [[Scale (anatomy)|scales]], as seen in extant [[reptiles]] such as [[crocodile]]s and [[lizard]]s. The anterior-most snout has a papillate texture which indicates the presence of an armour-like [[dermis]]. The author suggested that, based on the type specimen probably being a subadult individual, the armour-like dermis may have reached a larger surface as it grew to which it developed a more papillate texture. Delcourt (2018) also proposed that the armour-like dermis may correlate with a low-motion [[Headbutt|headbutting]] behaviour, as seen in [[marine iguana]]s.<ref name="delcourt2018">{{cite journal |last=Delcourt |first=Rafael |date=2018 |title=Ceratosaur palaeobiology: new insights on evolution and ecology of the southern rulers |journal=Scientific Reports |pmid=29950661 |pmc=6021374 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-28154-x |bibcode=2018NatSR...8.9730D |volume=8 |issue=1 |page=9730}}</ref>
A maxilla (NPSJB-PV247) from [[Patagonia]] shows similarities with ''Rugops'' as the pattern of external ornamentation is nearly identical and the internal details are also have a close similarity.<ref name="Lamanna2002">{{Cite journal|last1=C. Lamanna|first1=Matthew|last2=D. Martínez|first2=Rubén|last3=B. Smith|first3=Joshua|date=2002|title=A definitive abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from the early Late Cretaceous of Patagonia|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
|volume=22|issue=1|pages=58–69|doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0058:ADATDF]2.0.CO;2|s2cid=86153297 }}</ref><ref name="Sereno2004"/> In ''Rugops'', the interdenticular sulci of the [[Denticle (tooth feature)|denticles]], the presence of which might possible be a [[synapomorphic]] characteristic of Abelisauridae, is absent and has a higher dental formulae than in any other abelisaurid.<ref name="smith2007">{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Joshua B. |title=''Majungasaurus crenatissimus'' (Theropoda: Abelisauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |year=2007 |editor-last=Sampson |editor-first=Scott D. |series=Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir '''8''' |volume=27 |pages=103–126 |chapter=Dental morphology and variation in ''Majungasaurus crenatissimus'' (Theropoda: Abelisauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar |doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[103:DMAVIM]2.0.CO;2 |editor-last2=Krause |editor-first2=David W. |s2cid=85729335}}</ref> The nasal sculpturing of ''Rugops'' is similar to the ornamentation seen in ''[[Skorpiovenator]]'' as the surface of the nasals show hummocky-like rugosities and has grooves that lead into each [[foramen]]. However, unlike ''Skorpiovenator'', ''Rugops'' lacks extra foramina on the skull roof that could represent homologues. The external morphology of the nasals are similar to that of ''Skorpiovenator'' as they share a similar foramina pattern. The ventral surface of the nasals have a series of foramina, which has been suggested to connect to an internal system.<ref name="Cerroni2020">{{Cite journal|last1=A. Cerroni|first1=Mauricio|last2=I. Canale|first2=Juan|last3=E. Novas|first3=Fernando|last4=Paulina-Carabajal|first4=Ariana|date=2020|title=An exceptional neurovascular system in abelisaurid theropod skull: New evidence from ''Skorpiovenator bustingorryi''|journal=Journal of Anatomy|volume=240|issue=4|pages=612–626|doi=10.1111/joa.13258|pmid=32569442 |pmc=8930818 }}</ref>
The describing authors indicated two distinguishing traits. Both of these are autapomorphies, unique derived characters. The skull roof has small fenestra that are present between the prefrontal, frontal, post-orbital and lacrimal. The dorsal surface of each nasal has a row of seven small depressions.<ref name="Sereno2004"/>
==Classification==
[[File:Rugops_(cropped).png|thumb|right|[[Life restoration]]]]
Sereno ''et al.'' (2004) initially found ''Rugops'' to be the basalmost abelisaurid,<ref name="Sereno2004"/> a position also recovered by various analyses by Egli ''et al.'' (2016),<ref name="Egli2016">{{cite journal|last1=Egli|first1=F. B.|last2=AgnolÍn|first2=F. L.|last3=Novas|first3=Fernando|title=A new specimen of Velocisaurus unicus (Theropoda, Abelisauroidea) from the Paso Córdoba locality (Santonian), Río Negro, Argentina|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|date=2016|volume=36|issue=4|pages=e1119156|doi=10.1080/02724634.2016.1119156|bibcode=2016JVPal..36E9156B |s2cid=87699625 |issn=0272-4634|hdl=11336/46726|hdl-access=free}}</ref> Delcourt (2018),<ref name="delcourt2018"/> Cerroni ''et al.'' (2020)<ref name="cerroni2020">{{cite journal |last1=Cerroni |first1=M.A. |last2=Motta |first2=M.J. |last3=Agnolín |first3=F.L. |last4=Aranciaga Rolando |first4=A.M. |last5=Brissón Egli |first5=F. |last6=Novas |first6=F.E. |year=2020 |title=A new abelisaurid from the Huincul Formation (Cenomanian-Turonian; Upper Cretaceous) of Río Negro province, Argentina |journal=Journal of South American Earth Sciences |volume=98 |page=102445 |doi=10.1016/j.jsames.2019.102445|bibcode=2020JSAES..9802445C |s2cid=213781725 }}</ref> and Rolando ''et al.'' (2020).<ref name=aran>{{Cite journal|last1=Aranciaga Rolando|first1=Mauro|last2=Cerroni|first2=Mauricio A.|last3=Garcia Marsà|first3=Jordi A.|last4=Agnolín|first4=Federico L.|last5=Motta|first5=Matías J.|last6=Rozadilla|first6=Sebastián|last7=Brisson Eglí|first7=Federico|last8=Novas|first8=Fernando E.|date=October 14, 2020|title=A new medium-sized abelisaurid (Theropoda, Dinosauria) from the late cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Allen Formation of Northern Patagonia, Argentina|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895981120304582|journal=Journal of South American Earth Sciences|volume=105|language=en|pages=102915|doi=10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102915|hdl=11336/150468 |s2cid=225123133|issn=0895-9811|hdl-access=free}}</ref> However, ''Rugops'' has also been recovered as being more derived than ''[[Rahiolisaurus]]'' and/or ''[[Eoabelisaurus]]'' but more basal than other abelisaurids by Pol & Rauhut (2012),<ref name="Eoabelisaurus">{{cite journal |last1=Pol |first1=Diego |last2=Rauhut |first2=Oliver W. M. |name-list-style=amp |year=2012 |title=A Middle Jurassic abelisaurid from Patagonia and the early diversification of theropod dinosaurs |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=279 |issue=1804 |pages=3170–5 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2012.0660 |pmc=3385738 |pmid=22628475}}</ref> Rauhut & Carrano (2016),<ref name="Rauhut2016">{{Cite journal|last1=W. M. Rauhut|first1=Oliver|last2=T. Carrano|first2=Matthew|date=2016|title=The theropod dinosaur Elaphrosaurus bambergi Janensch, 1920, from the Late Jurassic of Tendaguru, Tanzania|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|volume=178 |issue=3|pages=546–610|doi=10.1111/zoj.12425}}</ref> and Iori ''et al.'' (2021).<ref name=JoSAES>{{Cite journal |last1=Iori |first1=F.V. |last2=de Araújo-Júnior |first2=H.I. |first3=S.A. |last3=Simionato Tavares |first4=T. |last4=da Silva Marinho |first5=A.G. |last5=Martinelli |year=2021 |title=New theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of Brazil improves abelisaurid diversity |journal=Journal of South American Earth Sciences |volume=112 |pages=103551 |doi=10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103551 |bibcode=2021JSAES.11203551I |s2cid=239682640 |issn=0895-9811}}</ref> Other alternative positions include ''Rugops'' being more derived than ''[[Kryptops]]'', ''[[Chenanisaurus]]'' and/or ''[[Spectrovenator]]'' as recovered by Sereno & Brusatte (2008),<ref name="SB08">{{cite journal |last1=Sereno |first1=Paul C. |author-link=Paul Sereno |last2=Brusatte |first2=Stephen L. |author-link2=Stephen L. Brusatte |name-list-style=and |year=2008 |title=Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger |url=https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app53/app53-015.pdf |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=15–46 |doi=10.4202/app.2008.0102 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Zaher et al. (2020),<ref name="Zaheretal2017">{{Cite journal|last1=Zaher|first1=H.|last2=Pol|first2=D.|last3=Navarro|first3=B.A.|last4=Delcourt|first4=R.|last5=Carvalho|first5=A.B.|date=October 2020|title=An Early Cretaceous theropod dinosaur from Brazil sheds light on the cranial evolution of the Abelisauridae|url=https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/comptes-rendus-palevol2020v19a6.pdf|journal=Comptes Rendus Palevol|language=en|volume=19|issue=6|pages=101–115|doi=10.5852/cr-palevol2020v19a6|doi-access=free}}</ref> Gianechini ''et al.'' (2021)<ref name="Llukalkan">{{Cite journal|last1=Gianechini|first1=Federico A.|last2=Méndez|first2= Ariel H.|last3=Filippi|first3=Leonardo S.|last4=Paulina-Carabajal|first4=Ariana|last5=Juárez-Valieri|first5=Rubén D.|last6=Garrido|first6=Alberto C.|title=A New Furileusaurian Abelisaurid from La Invernada (Upper Cretaceous, Santonian, Bajo De La Carpa Formation), Northern Patagonia, Argentina.|journal= Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|year= 2021|volume=40 |issue=6 |pages= e1877151|doi= 10.1080/02724634.2020.1877151|doi-access=free}}</ref> and Agnolín ''et al.'' (2022),<ref name="Agnolín2021">{{Cite journal|last1=Agnolín|first1=Federico L.|last2=Cerroni|first2=Mauricio A.|last3=Scanferla|first3=Agustín|last4=Goswami|first4=Anjali|last5=Paulina-Carabajal|first5=Ariana|last6=Halliday|first6=Thomas|last7=Cuff|first7=Andrew R.|last8=Reuil|first8=Santiago|date=February 10, 2022|title=First definitive abelisaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous of Northwestern Argentina|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2021.2002348|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|volume=41|issue=4|pages=e2002348|doi=10.1080/02724634.2021.2002348|s2cid=246766133|issn=0272-4634}}</ref> and within a [[polytomy]] with other abelisaurids such as ''[[Xenotarsosaurus]]'', ''[[Tarascosaurus]]'', ''[[Ilokelesia]]'' and ''[[Genusaurus]]'' which has been recovered by Tortosa ''et al.'' (2014),<ref name="tortosa2013">{{cite journal |last1=Tortosa |first1=Thierry |last2=Buffetaut |first2=Eric |last3=Vialle |first3=Nicolas |last4=Dutour |first4=Yves |last5=Turini |first5=Eric |last6=Cheylan |first6=Gilles |year=2014 |title=A new abelisaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of southern France: Palaeobiogeographical implications |journal=Annales de Paléontologie |volume=100 |issue=1 |pages=63–86 |bibcode=2014AnPal.100...63T |doi=10.1016/j.annpal.2013.10.003}}</ref> Baiano ''et al.'' (2020)<ref name="coria2020">{{Cite journal |last1=Baiano |first1=Mattia |last2=Coria |first2=Rodolfo |last3=Cau |first3=Andrea |year=2020 |title=A new abelisauroid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Huincul formation (lower upper Cretaceous, Neuquén Basin) of Patagonia, Argentina |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=110 |page=104408 |bibcode=2020CrRes.11004408B |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104408 |s2cid=214118853}}</ref> and Salem ''et al.'' (2022).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Salem |first1=Belal S. |last2=Lamanna |first2=Matthew C. |last3=O'Connor |first3=Patrick M. |last4=El-Qot |first4=Gamal M. |last5=Shaker |first5=Fatma |last6=Thabet |first6=Wael A. |last7=El-Sayed |first7=Sanaa |last8=Sallam |first8=Hesham M. | year=2022 |title=First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=9 |issue=6 |pages=220106 |doi=10.1098/rsos.220106|pmid=35706658 |pmc=9174736 |bibcode=2022RSOS....920106S }}</ref>
A phylogenetic analysis conducted by Zaher ''et al.'' (2020) is reproduced below.<ref name="Zaheretal2017"/>
{{Clade|{{clade
|1=''[[Eoabelisaurus]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Spectrovenator]]''
|2={{clade
|1='''''Rugops'''''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Arcovenator]]''
|2=''[[Rajasaurus]]''
|3=''[[Majungasaurus]]''
|4=''[[Indosaurus]]''
|5=''[[Abelisaurus]]''
|label6=[[Brachyrostra]]
|6={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Skorpiovenator]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Ekrixinatosaurus]]''
|2=''[[Ilokelesia]]'' }} }}
|label2=[[Carnotaurini]]
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Dahalokely]]''
|2=''[[Carnotaurus]]''
|3=''[[Aucasaurus]]''
|4=''[[Rahiolisaurus]]'' }} }} }} }} }} }}|label1=[[Abelisauridae]]}}
The results of an earlier analysis by Pol & Rauhut (2012) are reproduced below.<ref name=Eoabelisaurus/>
{{clade| style=font-size:85%;line-height:85%
|label1=[[Ceratosauria]]&nbsp;
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Berberosaurus]]''
|2=''[[Deltadromeus]]''
|3={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Spinostropheus]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Limusaurus]]''
|2=''[[Elaphrosaurus]]'' }} }}
|label2=&nbsp;[[Neoceratosauria]]&nbsp;
|2={{clade
|label1=&nbsp;[[Ceratosauridae]]&nbsp;
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Ceratosaurus]]''
|2=''[[Genyodectes]]'' }}
|label2=&nbsp;[[Abelisauroidea]]&nbsp;
|2={{clade
|label1=&nbsp;[[Noasauridae]]&nbsp;
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Laevisuchus]]''
|2=''[[Masiakasaurus]]''
|3=''[[Noasaurus]]''
|4=''[[Velocisaurus]]''}}
|label2=&nbsp;[[Abelisauridae]]&nbsp;
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Eoabelisaurus]]''
|2={{clade
|1=''''' Rugops'''''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Abelisaurus]]''
|label2=&nbsp;[[Carnotaurinae]]&nbsp;
|2={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Majungasaurus]]''
|2=''[[Indosaurus]]''
|3=''[[Rajasaurus]]'' }}
|label2=&nbsp;[[Brachyrostra]]&nbsp;
|2={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Ilokelesia]]''
|2=''[[Ekrixinatosaurus]]''
|3=''[[Skorpiovenator]]'' }}
|label2=&nbsp;[[Carnotaurini]]&nbsp;
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Carnotaurus]]''
|2=''[[Aucasaurus]]'' }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }}
== See also ==
* [[Timeline of ceratosaur research]]
* [[2004 in paleontology]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.projectexploration.org/rugops.htm Project Exploration on ''Rugops''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060503014022/http://www.projectexploration.org/rugops.htm |date=May 3, 2006 }} *[http://www.projectexploration.org/news-060204.htm Project Exploration news on ''Rugops''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405152701/http://www.projectexploration.org/news-060204.htm |date=April 5, 2006 }}
* [http://www.projectexploration.org/newsletters/cpd-rugops-press-release.pdf Chicago Park District press release on ''Rugops''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928072359/http://www.projectexploration.org/newsletters/cpd-rugops-press-release.pdf |date=September 28, 2006 }}, [[PDF]] format
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060724101122/http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2004/june/rugops.htm Sereno's speculation from "Science in Africa"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060214230406/http://208.51.67.12/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Rugops Artist's impressions of ''Rugops'', from Project Exploration]
* [http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/nature-online/dino-directory/detail.dsml?Genus=Rugops ''Rugops''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713081244/http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/nature-online/dino-directory//detail.dsml?Genus=Rugops |date=July 13, 2007 }} in the Dino Directory
{{Portal|Dinosaurs|Paleontology}}
{{Theropoda|B.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q133025}}
[[Category:Abelisaurids]]
[[Category:Late Cretaceous dinosaurs of Africa]]
[[Category:Cenomanian genera]]
[[Category:Cretaceous Niger]]
[[Category:Fossils of Niger]]
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 2004]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Paul Sereno]]