The mysteries of the past are still being unearthed, with a group of Argentinian researchers having found a new ancient species of dinosaur. That’s not all, as the dinosaur’s jaw also had the remains of its last meal: a crocodile.
The partial skeleton was found in the Lago Colhué Huapi Formation, with the official findings published in an article in Nature Communicationson Tuesday, September 23.
The new dinosaur species was named Joaquinraptor casali after Lucio M. Ibiricu’s son, Joaquin. Ibiricu is a researcher Patagonian Institute of Geology and Paleontology. He did so, claiming “all children love dinosaurs,” and his son likely will too when he’s old enough.
In the discovery, they learned that Joaquinraptor casali is a form of Megaraptoran. It’s largely known for being a “large-clawed carnivorous” that was prevalent in South America, Asia, and Australia.
Researchers who found the partial skeletons explain that it was almost completely preserved and one of the “latest-surviving” of its species.
Part of the skeletal remains included a skull, shoulder girdle, forelimb, and hind limb, along with some vertebrae, ribs, and other bones. Also preserved was a sickle-shaped claw on the middle finger.
That’s not all, as inside the remains of its jaw were also a limb bone from a crocodyliform. Many would recognize the species name as being a predecessor of the commonly known crocodile. The extra discovery allowed the researchers to learn more about the dinosaur’s dietary and feeding habits.
Based on what they have learned so far, the teachers estimate the dinosaur was alive and thrived over 66 million years ago, before the asteroid that ended the dinosaur age. They also report it likely died at the age of 19 and, at one point, possibly spanned 23 feet and weighed a ton.
