| Condorraptor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restoration | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Family: | †Piatnitzkysauridae |
| Genus: | †Condorraptor Rauhut 2005 |
| Species: | †C. currumili |
| Binomial name | |
| †Condorraptor currumili Rauhut, 2005 | |
Condorraptor is anextinctgenus ofmegalosauroidtheropoddinosaur. Its genus name means 'robber fromCerro Condor', referencing a nearby village, while its species name,currumili, is named after Hipolito Currumil, the landowner and discoverer of the locality. It was among the earliest large South American theropods, having been found inLower Jurassic strata of theCañadón Asfalto Formation in theCañadón Asfalto Basin ofArgentina. Thetype species, described in 2005, isCondorraptor currumili. It is based on atibia, with an associated partial skeleton that may belong to the same individual. Initially described as a basal tetanuran,[3] Benson (2010) found it to be apiatnitzkysaurid megalosauroid and the sister taxon ofPiatnitzkysaurus,[4] a finding supported by later studies.[5]
Theholotype ofCondorraptor isMPEF-PV 1672, a left tibia. Additional remains (MPEF-PV 1673 through 1697 and MPEF-PV 1700 through 1705) have also been referred to the species, includingvertebrae, teeth, rib and chevron fragments, partial hip bones,femurs, ametatarsal IV, and apedal phalanx. All of these remains were from the same locality of the holotype and likely represent the same individual. In 2007, various media outlets reported that an articulated skeleton of this species was discovered by a team led by Oliver Rauhut, but this find has not been described or referenced in literature.[6] Also in 2007, Rauhut described a fragmentary partial skull, MPEF 1717, from the Canadon Asfalto Formation. Due to the skull's size, locality,tetanuran characteristics, and differences from the cranial material ofPiatnitzkysaurus, it is possible that it belongs toCondorraptor.[7] The type specimen was a juvenile that was about 4.5 metres long and it weighed about 200 kg.[8]
Condorraptor is notably similar to another theropod from the same formation,Piatnitzkysaurus. Unique among tetanurans, these two share a flat anterior surface of the anteriorpresacral centra.[4] However, it can be distinguished fromPiatnitzkysaurus and other megalosauroids by several diagnostic features. Although some features considered diagnostic by the original description were later shown to be present in other megalosauroids, several features are still only known inCondorraptor. These include:[5]
In addition,Condorraptor differs fromPiatnitzkysaurus by the shape of the underside of its sacral centra. InCondorraptor, the second centra has a broad and flat base while the third is gently concave. InPiatnitzkysaurus, the second centra's base is smoothly rounded while the third's is flat along its midline.[5]
The most basal clade withinMegalosauroidea containsCondorraptor,Marshosaurus,Piatnitzkysaurus andXuanhanosaurus. The next most basal clade comprisesChuandongocoelurus andMonolophosaurus. However, the affiliation of these clades with Megalosauroidea is poorly supported by tree support metrics, and it is possible that they will be classified outside of Megalosauroidea by future analyses.[4]
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