[D] Pamparaptor micros [sG] [T]
Describer
Porfiri, Calvo & Dos Santos 2011
Time
Cretaceous Late Turonian Coniacian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Deinonychosauria
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Portezuelo Formation, Río Neuquén Subgroup, Neuquén Group, Argentina
Info
Abstract
Here we report on a new small deinonychosaurian theropod, Pamparaptor micros gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. Pamparaptor micros exhibits a pedal structure previously unknown among South American deinonychosaurians. The new material provides new evidence about the morphology and taxonomic diversity of Patagonian deinonychosaurs. Pamparaptor is the smaller non-avialae Patagonian deinonychosaur, probably with about 0.50-0.70 meters, long. The pedal construction resembles, that of Troodontid or basal Dromaeosaurids. Nevertheless, up to now, we considered Pamparaptor a peculiar Patagonian Dromaeosaurid with troodontid-like pes.
Holotype
The holotype MUCPv-1163 is represented by an articulated left foot including wellpreserved metatarsals II, III and IV, complete digit II, phalanges III-1, III-2 (well-preserved), and incomplete phalanges IV-2 and IV-3. The specimen was found in 2005 by Mr. Diego Rosales who is the technician of the Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales (CePaLB), Universidad Nacional del Comahue.
Etymology
Pampa, in honor to the Indian Pampas that lived in the central plain of Argentina; and raptor, robber in Greek; micros, for the small size of specimen.
Horizon, age and locality
The Portezuelo Formation, Río Neuquén Subgroup, Neuquén Group, Upper Cretaceous, Turonian-Coniacian (Leanza et al. 2004). The material cames from the Baal quarry on the north coast of Barreales Lake, at 90 kilometers NW of Neuquén city, Neuquén province, Patagonia, Argentina. Up to now, the record of dinosaurs collected in the Portezuelo Formation includes the giant lognkosaurian titanosaur Futalognkosaurus dukei (Calvo et al. 2007), the dromaeosaurids Unenlagia comahuensis [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas and Puerta 1997), Unenlagia paynemili (Calvo et al. 2004), and Neuquenraptor argentinus [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas and Pol 2005), the alvarezsaurid Patagonykus puertai [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas 1997), the allosauroid Megaraptor namunhuaiquii [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas 1998), as well as abelisaurids remains (Novas et al. 2006, Juárez Valieri et al. 2008), undescribed theropods (Porfiri et al. 2005), and fragmentary remains of a possible neornithine bird (Agnolín et al. 2006). [And also Macrogryphosaurus gondwanicus (Calvo, Porfiri & Novas 2007) - Malarguesaurus florenciae (González Riga, Previtera & Pirrone 2008) - Muyelensaurus pecheni (Calvo, González Riga & Porfiri, 2007)]
Diagnosis
Pamparaptor micros distinguishes from other deinonychosaurians in the following combination of features: slender metatarsus construction with metatarsals IV strongly compressed transversely on its distal half, acquiring a blade-like shape in caudal view; metatarsals IV and III subequal in length; proximal half of metatarsal III narrow and with subparalel margins along its length; metatarsal III lacking a distal ginglymus; metatarsal II distally overlapping metatarsal III; proximally, metatarsal II is approximately twice the wide of either metatarsals III and IV; phalanx 2.II longer than phalanx 2.I; in cranial view, distal end of metatarsal II with a small sulcus medially directed.
Porfiri, Calvo & Dos Santos 2011
Time
Cretaceous Late Turonian Coniacian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Deinonychosauria
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Portezuelo Formation, Río Neuquén Subgroup, Neuquén Group, Argentina
Info
Abstract
Here we report on a new small deinonychosaurian theropod, Pamparaptor micros gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. Pamparaptor micros exhibits a pedal structure previously unknown among South American deinonychosaurians. The new material provides new evidence about the morphology and taxonomic diversity of Patagonian deinonychosaurs. Pamparaptor is the smaller non-avialae Patagonian deinonychosaur, probably with about 0.50-0.70 meters, long. The pedal construction resembles, that of Troodontid or basal Dromaeosaurids. Nevertheless, up to now, we considered Pamparaptor a peculiar Patagonian Dromaeosaurid with troodontid-like pes.
Holotype
The holotype MUCPv-1163 is represented by an articulated left foot including wellpreserved metatarsals II, III and IV, complete digit II, phalanges III-1, III-2 (well-preserved), and incomplete phalanges IV-2 and IV-3. The specimen was found in 2005 by Mr. Diego Rosales who is the technician of the Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales (CePaLB), Universidad Nacional del Comahue.
Etymology
Pampa, in honor to the Indian Pampas that lived in the central plain of Argentina; and raptor, robber in Greek; micros, for the small size of specimen.
Horizon, age and locality
The Portezuelo Formation, Río Neuquén Subgroup, Neuquén Group, Upper Cretaceous, Turonian-Coniacian (Leanza et al. 2004). The material cames from the Baal quarry on the north coast of Barreales Lake, at 90 kilometers NW of Neuquén city, Neuquén province, Patagonia, Argentina. Up to now, the record of dinosaurs collected in the Portezuelo Formation includes the giant lognkosaurian titanosaur Futalognkosaurus dukei (Calvo et al. 2007), the dromaeosaurids Unenlagia comahuensis [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas and Puerta 1997), Unenlagia paynemili (Calvo et al. 2004), and Neuquenraptor argentinus [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas and Pol 2005), the alvarezsaurid Patagonykus puertai [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas 1997), the allosauroid Megaraptor namunhuaiquii [Rio Neuquen Formation] (Novas 1998), as well as abelisaurids remains (Novas et al. 2006, Juárez Valieri et al. 2008), undescribed theropods (Porfiri et al. 2005), and fragmentary remains of a possible neornithine bird (Agnolín et al. 2006). [And also Macrogryphosaurus gondwanicus (Calvo, Porfiri & Novas 2007) - Malarguesaurus florenciae (González Riga, Previtera & Pirrone 2008) - Muyelensaurus pecheni (Calvo, González Riga & Porfiri, 2007)]
Diagnosis
Pamparaptor micros distinguishes from other deinonychosaurians in the following combination of features: slender metatarsus construction with metatarsals IV strongly compressed transversely on its distal half, acquiring a blade-like shape in caudal view; metatarsals IV and III subequal in length; proximal half of metatarsal III narrow and with subparalel margins along its length; metatarsal III lacking a distal ginglymus; metatarsal II distally overlapping metatarsal III; proximally, metatarsal II is approximately twice the wide of either metatarsals III and IV; phalanx 2.II longer than phalanx 2.I; in cranial view, distal end of metatarsal II with a small sulcus medially directed.