[D] Neuquenraptor argentinus [jG]
Describer
Novas & Pol, 2005
Time
Cretaceous Late Cenomanian Turonian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Unenlagiinae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Rio Neuquen Formation, Sierra del Portezuelo, Plaza Huincul, Argentina
Fall Under
Unenlagia comahuensis
Length
2.5 meter
Info
Genus
Unenlagia comahuensis (Novas, 1997) > Unenlagia paynemili (Calvo, Porfiri & Kellner, 2004) >> Neuquenraptor argentinus (Novas & Pol, 2005) >> Araucanoraptor argentinus (Novas, 1997)
Material consists of fragments of cervical vertebra, dorsal ribs, haemal arches, left proximal radius, right femur and distal tibia, proximal tarsals, and most of the foot of the left hindlimb, found while digging up the ribcage of a titanosaur discovered near a site near Plaza Huincul, dated about 90 Ma. From this a head-to-tail length of 8 feet (2.5 m) and weight of 66 lbs (30 kg) are extrapolated. This material is formerly namend as Nomen Nudum \\\"Araucanoraptor\\\".
Novas, F.E. & D. Pol, 2005. New evidence on deinonychosaurian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature 433: 858 - 861.
Abstract
Most of what is known about the evolution of deinonychosaurs (that is, the group of theropods most closely related to birds) is based on discoveries from North America and Asia. Except for Unenlagia comahuensis and some fragmentary remains from northern Africa, no other evidence was available on deinonychosaurian diversity in Gondwana.
Here we report a new, Late Cretaceous member of the clade, Neuquenraptor argentinus gen. et sp. nov., representing uncontroversial evidence of a deinonychosaurian theropod in the Southern Hemisphere. The new discovery demonstrates that Cretaceous theropod faunas from the southern continents shared greater similarity with those of the northern landmasses than previously thought.
Available evidence suggests that deinonychosaurians were probably distributed worldwide at least by the beginning of the Cretaceous period. The phylogenetic position of the new deinonychosaur, as well as other Patagonian coelurosaurian theropods, is compatible with a vicariance model of diversification for some groups of Gondwanan and Laurasian dinosaurs.
Novas & Pol, 2005
Time
Cretaceous Late Cenomanian Turonian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Unenlagiinae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Rio Neuquen Formation, Sierra del Portezuelo, Plaza Huincul, Argentina
Fall Under
Unenlagia comahuensis
Length
2.5 meter
Info
Genus
Unenlagia comahuensis (Novas, 1997) > Unenlagia paynemili (Calvo, Porfiri & Kellner, 2004) >> Neuquenraptor argentinus (Novas & Pol, 2005) >> Araucanoraptor argentinus (Novas, 1997)
Material consists of fragments of cervical vertebra, dorsal ribs, haemal arches, left proximal radius, right femur and distal tibia, proximal tarsals, and most of the foot of the left hindlimb, found while digging up the ribcage of a titanosaur discovered near a site near Plaza Huincul, dated about 90 Ma. From this a head-to-tail length of 8 feet (2.5 m) and weight of 66 lbs (30 kg) are extrapolated. This material is formerly namend as Nomen Nudum \\\"Araucanoraptor\\\".
Novas, F.E. & D. Pol, 2005. New evidence on deinonychosaurian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature 433: 858 - 861.
Abstract
Most of what is known about the evolution of deinonychosaurs (that is, the group of theropods most closely related to birds) is based on discoveries from North America and Asia. Except for Unenlagia comahuensis and some fragmentary remains from northern Africa, no other evidence was available on deinonychosaurian diversity in Gondwana.
Here we report a new, Late Cretaceous member of the clade, Neuquenraptor argentinus gen. et sp. nov., representing uncontroversial evidence of a deinonychosaurian theropod in the Southern Hemisphere. The new discovery demonstrates that Cretaceous theropod faunas from the southern continents shared greater similarity with those of the northern landmasses than previously thought.
Available evidence suggests that deinonychosaurians were probably distributed worldwide at least by the beginning of the Cretaceous period. The phylogenetic position of the new deinonychosaur, as well as other Patagonian coelurosaurian theropods, is compatible with a vicariance model of diversification for some groups of Gondwanan and Laurasian dinosaurs.