Huinculsaurus

<i>Huinculsaurus</i>

Huinculsaurus

Genus of noasaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period

Huinculsaurus (meaning "Huincul Formation lizard") is a genus of noasaurid dinosaur from the Huincul Formation in Neuquén Province, Argentina. The type and only species is Huinculsaurus montesi.[1] It was probably around 3 metres (9.8 ft) when fully grown, although this is only speculation since no fully mature specimens are currently known.

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Discovery and naming

Size comparison

Huinculsaurus is only known from three thoracic and two sacral vertebrae from an immature individual, discovered c. 1991. It was discovered ten meters away from where the Ilokelesia holotype was discovered[2] and the vertebrae were mechanically separated during preparation. The genus was eventually named in 2020.[1]

Classification

Huinculsaurus was placed in the Elaphrosaurinae subfamily of Noasauridae in 2020.[1] It was most closely related to Elaphrosaurus and Limusaurus, both from the Late Jurassic. This would make Huinculsaurus the youngest known elaphrosaurine.

References

  1. [1]
    Mattia Baiano; Rodolfo Coria; Andrea Cau (2020). "A new abelisauroid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Huincul formation (lower upper Cretaceous, Neuquén Basin) of Patagonia, Argentina". Cretaceous Research. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104408.
  2. [2]
    Coria, R.A.; Salgado, L. & Calvo, J.O. (1991) "Primeros restos de dinosaurios Theropoda del Miembro Huincul, Formación Río Limay (Cretácico Tardío Presenoniano), Neuquén, Argentina." Ameghiniana, 28: 405-406.

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