Patagonykus
Patagonykus Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
---|---|
Reconstructed skeleton | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Order: | Saurischia |
Suborder: | Theropoda |
Family: | †Alvarezsauridae |
Subfamily: | †Patagonykinae |
Genus: | †Patagonykus Novas, 1996 |
Species: | † P. puertai |
Binomial name | |
Patagonykus puertai Novas, 1996 | |
Patagonykus is a genus of theropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina. This alvarezsaur was discovered in exposures of the Portezuelo Member (Turonian-Coniacian) of the Rio Neuquen Formation in the Neuquen Province of Argentina. The holotype consists of an incomplete but well-preserved skeleton, lacking a skull, but including many vertebrae, the coracoids, a partial forelimb, pelvic girdle, and hindlimbs. Patagonykus ("Patagonian claw") has been classed with the Alvarezsauridae, a family which includes such taxa as the Mongolian Mononykus and the Argentinian Alvarezsaurus. Patagonykus is estimated to have been approximately two meters in length.
References
- Novas, F. E. 1997. Anatomy of Patagonykus puertai (Theropoda, Avialae, Alvarezsauridae), from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 17(1); 137-166.
- Novas, F. E. and Molnar, R. E. (eds.) 1996. Alvarezsauridae, Cretaceous basal birds from Patagonia and Mongolia. Proceedings of the Gondwanan Dinosaur Symposium, Brisbane. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 39(3):iv + 489-731; 675-702.
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