Neuquenraptor
Name:
Neuquenraptor
(Neuquen thief).
Phonetic: Noy-kwan-rap-tore.
Named By: F. E. Novas & D. Pol -
2005.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Saurischia, Theropoda, Maniraptora, Dromaeosauridae,
Unenlagiinae.
Species: N. argentinus
(type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: About 1.8 meters long.
Known locations: Argentina - Portezuelo
Formation.
Time period: Turonian/Coniacian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Radius (fore arm bone),
ribs, left foot and partial caudal (tail) vertebrae.
Neuquenraptor
was very nearly the first dromaeosaurid
dinosaur to be discovered on
the South American continent. First discovered in 1996, the
holotype specimen was unofficially named Araucanoraptor argentinus in
1997. Also in 1997 another dromaeosaurid genus named Unenlagia
was named from the same formation, and because this genus had a
proper description, Unenlagia became the first
‘official’
dromaeosaurid dinosaur to be named in South America.
The
remains known as Araucanoraptor were finally officially named in
2005, but this time as Neuquenraptor. The
future for Neuquenraptor
however is now uncertain because now there is speculation that the
fossils of Neuquenraptor are actually further
remains of Unenlagia,
and since Unenlagia was officially named eight
years before,
Neuquenraptor may become a junior synonym to it
Unenlagia.
The
presence of dromaeosaurs in South America is yet further proof that
South America was not the isolated continent that it was long presumed
to be, or at least temporally but periodically connected to other
continents. The presence of spinosaurid
and carcharodontosaurid
theropod dinosaurs in both South America and Africa during the later
stages of the Early Cretaceous and beginning of the Late Cretaceous is
proof that a faunal exchange was happening between these continents.
The presence of hadrosaurs
such as Secernosaurus
and Willinakaqe
is
also possible proof that some dinosaurs managed to travel from North
America into South America. The question remains, which route did
the dromaeosaurs take?
Further reading
- New theropods from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. - Journal
of Vertebrate Paleontology 16: 56A. - F. E. Novas, G.
Caldera & P. Puerta - 1996.
- New evidence on deinonychosaurian dinosaurs from the Late
Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature 433:858-861. - F. E. Novas
& D. Pol - 2005.
- The Earliest Dromaeosaurid Theropod from South America. -
Nature 437 (7061): 1007–1011. - Peter J. Makovicky,
Sebasti�n Apestegu�a, Federico L. Agnol�n - 2005.
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