NEW YORK — Scientists in Argentina have identified a new species of dinosaur after unearthing fossils that included part of a crocodile bone lodged in its mouth, shedding light on a mysterious group of predators known as megaraptorans.
The newly named species, Joaquinraptor casali, measured approximately 23 feet (7 meters) in length and lived between 66 and 70 million years ago, near the end of the Cretaceous period, also known as the dinosaur age. Researchers uncovered parts of a skull, arm, leg, and tail from the Lago Colhué Huapi rock formation in Patagonia, which feature unique characteristics distinguishing it as a previously unknown dinosaur.
Megaraptorans are characterized by elongated skulls and “huge and very powerful claws,” according to Lucio Ibiricu of the Patagonian Institute of Geology and Paleontology, a member of the discovery team. However, scientists still debate how these predators hunted and where they fit in the broader evolutionary timeline, since most fossil records remain incomplete.
The new find helps fill that gap. “This latest member of the megaraptoran clan named Joaquinraptor casali, fills a major gap by providing one of the most complete skeletons yet,” Federico Agnolin of the Argentine Museum of Natural Science Bernardino Rivadavia said in an email. Agnolin was not part of the research, which was published Tuesday in Nature Communications.
The dinosaur was at least 19 years old when it died. A fossilized forelimb of an ancient crocodile relative was found pressed against its jaws, suggesting possible insights into its diet and whether it was a top predator on the humid floodplains of prehistoric Patagonia.
Ibiricu named the species in memory of his son Joaquin. While his son was very young and had not yet developed an interest in dinosaurs, Ibiricu said he believed Joaquin would have appreciated the tribute.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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