| Alpkarakush | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Portrait ofAlpkarakush | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Family: | †Metriacanthosauridae |
| Subfamily: | †Metriacanthosaurinae |
| Genus: | †Alpkarakush Rauhut et al.,2024 |
| Species: | †A. kyrgyzicus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus Rauhut et al., 2024 | |
Alpkarakush is anextinct genus ofmetriacanthosaurid theropod dinosaurs from theJurassicBalabansai Formation of Kyrgyzstan. The genus contains asingle species,A. kyrgyzicus, known from a partial skeleton.[1]
TheAlpkarakush fossil material was discovered in sediments of theBalabansai Formation ('FTU-1' locality) in the Uurusai Valley nearTashkumyr inJalal-Abad Oblast of Kyrgyzstan. Initial fieldwork at the locality was conducted in 2005 and 2006, during which two partial theropod skeletons were found. Further excavations in 2014 recovered additional material, followed by later work in 2016 and 2017. A 2023 expedition revisited the site and found even more material, including teeth and isolated bones. At least two individual animals are represented by the recovered bones, both of which are assigned toAlpkarakush. Theholotype specimen consists of skull bones (bothpostorbitals and aquadratojugal), several partialdorsal vertebrae and fivesacral vertebrae, someribs, a manualphalanx andungual (digit bone and claw), much of thepelvic girdle, and most of the hindlimbs (femora,tibiae, leftfibula,astragalocalcanea, a lefttarsal,metatarsals, a pedal phalanx, and two pedal unguals). Theparatype specimen belongs to a smaller individual and consists of a partial pelvic girdle and the right tibia. At least seven isolated teeth and afurcula were found nearby and assigned toAlpkarakush, although the association of some of the teeth with this taxon is only tentative. All of the fossil material is housed at theInstitute of Geology's Paleontological Collection, associated with theKyrgyz National Academy of Sciences.[1]
In 2024, Rauhut et al.describedAlpkarakush kyrgyzicus as a new genus and species of metriacanthosaurid theropod based on these fossil remains. Thegeneric name,Alpkarakush is the name of a mythical powerful bird from theEpic of Manas.[2] Thespecific name,kyrgyzicus, references the discovery of the taxon in the Kyrgyz Republic.[1]
As a metriacanthosaurid theropod,Alpkarakush is a relatively large predator characterized by a high, arched skull and generally slender hindlimbs. These taxa have a pronounced orbital brow—a decorative structure over the eye— which is especially apparent and rugose inAlpkarakush.[1]
Alpkarakush has an estimated body length of 7–8 m (23–26 ft). Based on growth marks observed in the femur viahistology, Rauhut et al. determined that the holotype (the larger of the two known specimens) was at least 17 years old when it died, and was likely still growing slowly. The smaller paratype was much younger when it died, either a large juvenile or possibly a small subadult.[1]
In theirphylogenetic analyses, Rauhut et al. (2024) recovered as abasal member of themetriacanthosaurid clade Metriacanthosaurinae. Their results are displayed in thecladogram below:[1]
YouTube video: "The discovery of the predatory dinosaurAlpkarakush"
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