Chucarosaurus Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, | |
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Skeletal diagram of Chucarosaurus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | † Sauropodomorpha |
Clade: | † Sauropoda |
Clade: | † Macronaria |
Clade: | † Titanosauria |
Clade: | † Colossosauria |
Genus: | † Chucarosaurus Agnolin et al., 2023 |
Species: | †C. diripienda |
Binomial name | |
†Chucarosaurus diripienda Agnolin et al., 2023 | |
Chucarosaurus (meaning "indomitable reptile") is an extinct genus of titanosaurian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous (middle Cenomanian–lower Turonian) Huincul Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, C. diripienda, known from various limb and pelvic bones. [1]
The Chucarosaurus holotype specimen, MPCA PV 820, was discovered in sediments of the Huincul Formation, dated to the middle Cenomanian–lower Turonian ages of the late Cretaceous period, at Pueblo Blanco Natural Reserve in Río Negro Province, Argentina. The specimen consists of a complete left humerus, partial left radius, complete left metacarpal II, left ischium, partial left femur and fibula, partial right tibia, and partial indeterminate metapodial, all of which belong to one individual. An additional specimen (MPCA PV 821), consisting of a left femur and tibia, was assigned as the paratype. [1]
In 2023, Agnolin et al. described Chucarosaurus diripienda, a new genus and species of colossosaurian titanosaurs, based on these fossil remains. The generic name, "Chucarosaurus", combines "chucaro", a Quechua word meaning "hard and indomitable animal" with the Latin word "saurus", meaning "reptile". The specific name, "diripienda", is derived from a Latin word meaning "scrambled". [1]
Chucarosaurus was a large, slender-limbed titanosaur. Its femur was roughly 1.9 metres (6.2 ft) long, somewhat smaller than the estimated 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) length of the femur of Argentinosaurus . The forelimb was shorter than the hindlimb, with a humerus 78% the length of the femur, as is typical of titanosaurs but unlike some basal titanosauriforms such as brachiosaurids. As in other colossosaurs, the deltopectoral crest of the humerus was thickened in its distal half. The ischium has a shorter, more robust iliac peduncle than in other titanosaurs. [1]
Agnolin et al. (2023) recovered Chucarosaurus as a colossosaurian member of the Titanosauria, as the sister taxon to a clade formed by Notocolossus and the Lognkosauria. The results of their phylogenetic analyses are shown in the cladogram below: [1]
Chucarosaurus is known from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Río Negro Province, Argentina. Many dinosaurs, including fellow titanosaurs ( Argentinosaurus Bustingorrytitan , and Choconsaurus ), [2] rebbachisaurids ( Cathartesaura , Limaysaurus , and Sidersaura ), [3] [4] carcharodontosaurids ( Mapusaurus , Meraxes , and Taurovenator ), [5] a megaraptoran ( Aoniraptor ), abelisaurids ( Skorpiovenator , Tralkasaurus , and Ilokelesia ), an elaphrosaurine ( Huinculsaurus ), [6] a paravian ( Overoraptor ), and the unusual avetheropod Gualicho have also been named from the formation. [7] [8] Remains of unenlagiids, iguanodonts, and elasmarian ornithopods are also known. [1]
Argentinosaurus is a genus of giant sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina. Although it is only known from fragmentary remains, Argentinosaurus is one of the largest known land animals of all time, perhaps the largest, measuring 30–35 metres (98–115 ft) long and weighing 65–80 tonnes. It was a member of Titanosauria, the dominant group of sauropods during the Cretaceous. It is widely regarded by many paleontologists as the biggest dinosaur ever, and perhaps lengthwise the longest animal ever, though both claims have no concrete evidence yet.
Rugops is a monospecific genus of basal abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from Niger that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now the Echkar Formation. The type and only species, Rugops primus, is known only from a partial skull. It was named and described in 2004 by Paul Sereno, Jeffery Wilson and Jack Conrad. Rugops has an estimated length of 4.4–5.3 metres and weight of 410 kilograms. The top of its skull bears several pits which correlates with overlaying scale and the front of the snout would have had an armour-like dermis.
Bonitasaura is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur hailing from uppermost layers of the Late Cretaceous (Santonian) Bajo de la Carpa Formation, Neuquén Group of the eastern Neuquén Basin, located in Río Negro Province, Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. The remains, consisting of a partial sub-adult skeleton jumbled in a small area of fluvial sandstone, including a lower jaw with teeth, a partial vertebrae series, and limb bones, were described by Sebastian Apesteguía in 2004.
Andesaurus is a genus of basal titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur which existed during the middle of the Cretaceous Period in South America. Like most sauropods, belonging to one of the largest animals ever to walk the Earth, it would have had a small head on the end of a long neck and an equally long tail.
Mapusaurus was a giant carcharodontosaurid carnosaurian dinosaur from the early Late Cretaceous, approximately 93.9 to 89.6 million years ago, of what is now Argentina.
Rocasaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod that lived in South America. Rocasaurus was discovered in Argentina in 2000, within the Allen Formation which is dated to be middle Campanian to early Maastrichtian in age. This genus grew up to 8 metres (26 ft) long, making it one of the smaller sauropods. It seems to be closely related to saltasaurid dinosaurs, like Saltasaurus and Neuquensaurus.
The Huincul Formation is a geologic formation of Late Cretaceous age of the Neuquén Basin that outcrops in the Mendoza, Río Negro and Neuquén Provinces of northern Patagonia, Argentina. It is the second formation in the Río Limay Subgroup, the oldest subgroup within the Neuquén Group. Formerly that subgroup was treated as a formation, and the Huincul Formation was known as the Huincul Member.
Carnotaurini is a tribe of the theropod dinosaur family Abelisauridae from the Late Cretaceous period of Patagonia. It includes the dinosaurs Carnotaurus sastrei; the type species, Aucasaurus garridoi, and Abelisaurus comahuensis. This group was first proposed by paleontologists Rodolfo Coria, Luis Chiappe, and Lowell Dingus in 2002, being defined as a clade containing "Carnotaurus sastrei, Aucasaurus garridoi, their most recent common ancestor, and all of its descendants."
Skorpiovenator is a genus of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Argentina. It is one of the most complete and informative abelisaurids yet known, described from a nearly complete and articulated skeleton.
Patagotitan is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Cerro Barcino Formation in Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina. The genus contains a single species known from at least six young adult individuals, Patagotitan mayorum, which was first announced in 2014 and then named in 2017 by José Carballido and colleagues. Preliminary studies and press releases suggested that Patagotitan was the largest known titanosaur and land animal overall, with an estimated length of 37 m (121 ft) and an estimated weight of 69 tonnes. Later research revised the length estimate down to 31 m (102 ft) and weight estimates down to approximately 50–57 tonnes, suggesting that Patagotitan was of a similar size to, if not smaller than, its closest relatives Argentinosaurus and Puertasaurus. Still, Patagotitan is one of the most-known titanosaurs, and so its interrelationships with other titanosaurs have been relatively consistent in phylogenetic analyses. This led to its use in a re-definition of the group Colossosauria by Carballido and colleagues in 2022.
Taurovenator is a medium-sized carcharodontosaurid theropod from the late Cretaceous of Argentina. Discovered by Matias Motta in 2005 and formally described in 2016, it is represented by an isolated right postorbital.
Tralkasaurus is a genus of abelisaurid dinosaur from the Huincul Formation from Río Negro Province in Argentina. The type and only species is Tralkasaurus cuyi, named in 2020 by Mauricio Cerroni and colleagues based on an incomplete skeleton. A medium-sized abelisaurid, Tralkasaurus exhibits a conflicting blend of characteristics found among the early-diverging abelisauroids with others that characterize the highly specialized clade Brachyrostra, and thus its position within the clade is poorly-resolved.
Kaikaifilusaurus is an extinct genus of rhynchocephalians in the family Sphenodontidae from the Late Cretaceous of South America. Fossils of the genus were found in Cenomanian sediments of the Candeleros Formation and Turonian layers of the Huincul Formation, both of the Neuquén Basin and the Albian strata of the Cerro Barcino Formation in the Cañadón Asfalto Basin, all in Patagonia, Argentina. The genus contains two species, K. minimus and the type species K. calvoi.
Overoraptor is an extinct genus of paravian theropod of uncertain affinities from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Argentinian Patagonia. The genus contains a single species, O. chimentoi, known from several bones of the hands, feet, and hips alongside some vertebrae.
Meraxes is a genus of large carcharodontosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Patagonia, Argentina. The genus contains a single species, Meraxes gigas.
Patagopelta is an extinct genus of ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Allen Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, P. cristata, known from a partial skeleton. While originally described as a nodosaurine, later discoveries provided support for parankylosaurian affinities for the taxon. Patagopelta is a very small ankylosaur, comparable in size to the dwarf nodosaurid Struthiosaurus, about 2 m (6.6 ft) long.
Bustingorrytitan is a genus of lithostrotian titanosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Huincul Formation of Argentina. The type species is Bustingorrytitan shiva.
Sidersaura is an extinct genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, S. marae, known from the remains of four individuals. Sidersaura represents one of the largest known rebbachisaurids.
Chakisaurus is an extinct genus of elasmarian ornithopod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, C. nekul, known from multiple partial skeletons belonging to individuals of different ages. Chakisaurus represents the first ornithischian species to be named from the Huincul Formation.