NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have discovered a new dinosaur from Argentina with powerful claws, feasting on an ancient crocodile bone. The newly identified dinosaur was possibly 23 feet (7 meters) long and belonged to a mysterious group of dinosaurs called megaraptorans.
Megaraptorans roamed what is now South America, Australia, and parts of Asia, evolving into different species over millions of years. They were known for their elongated skulls and “huge and very powerful claws,” said Lucio Ibiricu of the Patagonian Institute of Geology and Paleontology, who was part of the discovery team.
However, it remains unclear how these creatures hunted and where exactly they fit on the evolutionary timeline, mainly because the fossils recovered so far have been incomplete.
In a new study, researchers reported the discovery of part of a skull as well as arm, leg, and tail bones from the Lago Colhué Huapi rock formation in Patagonia. They noticed unique features in the bones that indicated this could be a new species.
This latest member of the megaraptoran family has been named Joaquinraptor casali. Federico Agnolin from the Argentine Museum of Natural Science Bernardino Rivadavia, who was not involved in the research, commented via email that this find “fills a major gap by providing one of the most complete skeletons yet.” The research was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
The dinosaur likely lived between 66 and 70 million years ago — close to the time when dinosaurs went extinct — and was at least 19 years old at the time of its death. Scientists do not yet know what caused its death.
Interestingly, a front leg bone was found pressed against its jaws, belonging to an ancient relative of crocodiles. This detail could provide clues to its diet and whether Joaquinraptor casali was the top predator on the humid prehistoric flood plains.
Ibiricu named the new dinosaur in memory of his son Joaquin. Though Joaquin was very young and had not yet developed a fascination with dinosaurs, Ibiricu believes his son would have appreciated being honored in this way. “All children love dinosaurs so he would probably be a fan too,” he said.
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