Kryptops Palaios Tooth Collection

Kryptops palaios is a theropod dinosaur from the Abelisauridae family, found in the Early Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) layers of the Elrhaz Formation in Niger's Ténéré Desert. Paleontologists Paul Sereno and Steve Brusatte first described it in 2008. The name Kryptops comes from Greek, meaning "covered face," and " palaios " means "old," indicating it is one of the earliest abelisaurids.

The main specimen is a partial maxilla with a rough surface, deep striations, and grooves, suggesting it was covered by a keratinous beard rather than scales. Kryptops is estimated to be about 6 to 7 meters long (19.7 to 23.0 feet). Although initial finds included vertebrae, ribs, and a pelvis that were thought to belong to the same individual, later research suggests these may come from different species, such as carcharodontosaurids or metriacanthosaurids.

The Elrhaz paleoenvironment consisted of floodplains and rivers, home to diverse dinosaurs like Suchomimus, Eocarcharia, Ouranosaurus, and Nigersaurus. Kryptops co-existed with these predators in a complex ecosystem with various ecological niches. Despite debates over the postcranial fossils' origin, the maxilla remains a key feature for studying early abelisaurid evolution.