Noasaurus
Paleoichthyologist
Emerson Winslow delves into the underwater world of prehistoric fish, uncovering the mysteries of early marine life. His discoveries have enhanced understanding of vertebrate evolution in aquatic environments.
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Name
Noasaurus(Northwestern Argetnina lizard).
Phonetic
No-ah-sore-us.
Named By
J. F. Bonaparte & J. E.Powell - 1980.
Classification
Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,Saurischia, Theropoda, Abelisauroidea, Noasauridae.
Diet
Carnivore.
Species
N. leali
Size
Uncertain due to lack of remains, butroughly estimated to be about 2.4 meters in length.
Known locations
Argentina, Salta Province -Lecho Formation.
Time Period
Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation
Partial skull and postcranial remains including finger and lower leg bones.
In Depth
Noasaurus is the type genus of the noasauridae, a side group of theropod dinosaurs that are thought to have had the same immediate origins as theabelisaurids (such asAbelisaurus andAucasaurus).Noasaurus however is only known by very partial remains which makes it difficult to ascertain specific details about this dinosaur. At the time of its discovery, it was thought thatNoasaurus had an enlarged claw on the foot, analogous to the sickle claws commonly seen ondromaeosaurs andtroodonts such asVelociraptor andTroodon. However a 2010 study by Agnolin and Chiarelli has now reported that the correct position of the claw is actually on the hand. This would not mark the first time that such a mistake was made, the large theropod dinosaurMegaraptor was once thought to have had large sickle claws on its feet, just for them to later be realised as actually belonging on the hands.
Further Reading
- A continental assemblage of tetrapods from the Upper Cretaceousbeds of El Brete, northwestern Argentina(Sauropoda-Coelurosauria-Carnosauria-Aves). M�moires de la Soci�t�G�ologique de France, Nouvelle S�rie 139:19-28. - J. F.Bonaparte & J. E. Powell - 1980.- The position of the claws in Noasauridae (Dinosauria:Abelisauroidea) and its implications for abelisauroid manusevolution. - Pal�ontologische Zeitschrift. - F. L. Agnolin& P. Chiarelli - 2010.
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
