Aucasaurus
Named after Auca Mahuevo, the fossil site in Argentina where it was found; 'saur' from Greek sauros meaning 'lizard'. Full meaning: 'Auca Mahuevo lizard'.
Late Cretaceous stages
Aucasaurus is a genus of medium-sized abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from Argentina that lived during the Late Cretaceous (Santonian to Campanian stage) of the Anacleto Formation. It was smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although more derived in some ways, such as its extremely reduced arms and almost total lack of fingers.
Diagnosis
- Frontal swells instead of horns (unlike Carnotaurus which bears cranial horns)
- Sigmoidal outline of the dentigerous margin of the maxilla
- Humerus with slender, craniocaudally compressed shaft and well-defined condyles
- Proximal radius lacking a hooked ulnar process
- Chevrons with dorsally open haemal canals (opposite condition found in Carnotaurus and Ilokelesia)
Species
Aucasaurus garridoi Coria et al., 2002
Type species
Named in homage to Alberto Garrido, who discovered the holotype.
- Holotype
- MCF-PVPH 236 , Museo ‘Carmen Funes’, Plaza Huincul
- Material
- Nearly complete articulated skeleton including complete caudal series, complete articulated forelimbs with fully articulated manus, and both complete articulated hind limbs
- Horizon
- Anacleto Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
- Locality
- Auca Mahuevo, near La Escondida Mine, Neuquén, Argentina
References
-
Carrano, M. T.; Sampson, S. D. (2008). The Phylogeny of Ceratosauria (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 6(2): 183-236. doi:10.1017/S1477201907002246
Gives the occurrence as "Auca Maheuvo, near La Escondida Mine, northeastern Neuquén Province".
carrano2008a - Coria, R. A.; Chiappe, L. M.; Dingus, L. (2002). A new close relative of Carnotaurus sastrei Bonaparte 1985 (Theropoda: Abelisauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(2): 460-465. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0460:ancroc]2.0.co;2 coria2002a