Kakuru

‭K‬a-ku-ru.
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Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

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Name

Kakuru ‭(‬after the Rainbow serpent‭)‬.

Phonetic

‭K‬a-ku-ru.

Named By

Molnar‭ & ‬Pledge‭ ‬-‭ ‬1980.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Theropoda.

Diet

Presumed carnivore.

Species

K.‭ ‬kujani‭

Size

Uncertain due to incomplete remains,‭ ‬but estimated between‭ ‬2‭ ‬to‭ ‬3‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

Australia.

Time Period

Early Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Single tibia‭ (‬lower leg bone‭).

In Depth

       Like with Rapator and Ozraptor,‭ ‬Kakuru has been named from a single bone.‭ ‬Also like with Raptor,‭ ‬the type specimen of Kakuru has been turned to opal.‭ ‬The exact classification of Kakuru has been hard to establish because of the lack of identifiable remains.‭ ‬What can be said is that Kakuru was likely a theropod dinosaur and hence most probably carnivorous.‭ ‬However there have been many suggestions about what kind of theropod it was including that it could have been a coelurosaur,‭ ‬oviraptosaur to even an abelisaur.‭ ‬The type species of K.‭ ‬kujani is named after the Kujani aboriginal tribe.

Further Reading

– A new theropod dinosaur from South Australia. – Alcheringa 4:281-287. – R. E. Molnar and N. S. Pledge – 1980.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT