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Palaeontology

New Megaraptor dinosaur found in Argentina

By T.K. Randall
July 25, 2016 · Comment icon 14 comments

Megaraptors were highly proficient at hunting down prey. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Gonce
A new species of meat-eating dinosaur dating back to the Late Cretaceous has been unearthed in Patagonia.
Named Murusraptor barrosaensis, this previously unknown theropod was part of a family of dinosaurs known as the megaraptorids which were fast, agile and extremely capable hunters.

Discovered in a fossil-rich region of Patagonia known as Sierra Barrosa, Murusraptor has been described as one of the most complete megaraptorids ever found.
This particular specimen was so well-preserved that even its brain case was still intact. Its name was derived from 'Murus' - meaning 'wall' in Latin - after the fossil was found in the side of a canyon.

"A new meat-eating dinosaur, Murusraptor barrosaensis, has been discovered from 80 million year old rocks from Patagonia, Argentina," said researcher Rodolfo Coria.

"Although incomplete, the beautifully preserved bones of Murusraptor unveil unknown information about the skeletal anatomy of megaraptors, a highly specialized group of Mesozoic predators."

Source: Seeker.com | Comments (14)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #5 Posted by jarjarbinks 8 years ago
what would you prefer ? being eaten alive by a lion or a raptor ?
Comment icon #6 Posted by Lucas Cooper Merrin 8 years ago
Or a sex starved 50 yearold woman who has kept herself reasonably fit
Comment icon #7 Posted by Zalmoxis 8 years ago
A really scary chicken.
Comment icon #8 Posted by Merc14 8 years ago
I didn't know that dinosaurs could have hollow bones like a flying reptile.  Wouldn't this mean they are more pterosaur than dinosaur?
Comment icon #9 Posted by BeastieRunner 8 years ago
Pterasaurs are more like flying reptiles while dinosaurs (therepod-classes) are more like flightless birds.
Comment icon #10 Posted by newbloodmoon 8 years ago
I admit that I am a late comer to liking the raptors due to the overhype of the Jurassic park movies but they have grown on me over the years. I think it's quite cool they have found another mega raptor. 
Comment icon #11 Posted by Carnoferox 8 years ago
Megaraptors aren't closely related to Velociraptor and its kin (the dromaeosaurs). They are closer to Allosaurus and Giganotosaurus.
Comment icon #12 Posted by newbloodmoon 8 years ago
Yes, but I am still excited over the new find.
Comment icon #13 Posted by Lucas Cooper Merrin 8 years ago
How is the relation determined?
Comment icon #14 Posted by Carnoferox 8 years ago
Cladistic analyses; using computer software to match similar traits of the bones of dinosaurs.


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