New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Argentina with Crocodile Bone in Jaw

Published:

New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Argentina with Crocodile Bone in Jaw
Photo: Marcelo Luna/AP/TT

Researchers in Argentina have discovered a new dinosaur with powerful claws. The fossil was found feasting on an old crocodile bone.

The creature likely lived between 66 and 70 million years ago – near the time when the dinosaurs died out – and came from a group called megaraptor. They roamed around in what is now South America, Australia, and parts of Asia.

Megaraptors were known for their elongated skulls and enormous and very powerful claws, says Lucio Ibiricu from the Patagonian Institute of Geology and Paleontology (IPGP), who was part of the team that made the discovery.

In a study published in Nature Communications the researchers tell that they discovered parts of a skull as well as arm, leg and tail bones in the Lago Colhué Huapi rock formation in Patagonia. It was the unique characteristics of the bones that made them realize that this could be a new species.

The newly discovered animal is believed to have been seven meters long and was at least 19 years old when it died. It is not yet clear how these creatures hunted and where they are on the evolutionary timeline – mainly because the fossils found so far have been incomplete.

The bone that was jammed into the megaraptor's jaw belonged to an ancient relative of crocodiles and can at least provide some clues about its diet.

Loading related articles...

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

More news

Loading related posts...