New Species of Dinosaur Help to Discern Evolutionary Origin of the Megaraptorid Clade

A new species of megaraptorid Dinosaur has been discovered in Patagonia. This latest discovery may help to determine the evolution of the megaraptorid clade. This study was published by University of Alberta, Canada on 20^th July’2016.

The study analyzed the fossil of the partial skeleton which was discovered in northwest Patagonia. The discovery represents one of the most complete megaraptoid which has an extraordinary intact braincase. The dinosaur has distinct skull features, which has been named as ‘Murusraptor barrosaensis’.

The sample appears to be immature, but the species is larger and slenderer in size. This species has different facial features, as well as strangely shaped hip bones.

Evolutionary associations are not clear with the phylogenetic analysis, but these fossils present us with new anatomical information.

The lead author of the study stated that the meat eating dinosaur has been discovered from 80 million years old rocks from Patagonia, Argentina. He also stated that the attractive preserved bones of Murusraptor uncover unknown details about the skeleton anatomy of megaraptors.