Koleken
From Teushen, a language of central Patagonia, meaning 'coming from clay and water', in reference to the estuarine sedimentary environment where it was found. The species name honors Inakayal, a chief of the Tehuelche people.
Late Cretaceous stages
Koleken is a genus of carnotaurin abelisaurid from the Maastrichtian La Colonia Formation in the Chubut Province of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, Koleken inakayali, known from one immature specimen about 4.97 meters (16.3 ft) long and six years old in minimum age.
Diagnosis
- Medially smooth paradental plates
- Dorsal surface of nasal with row of foramina orientated obliquely to longitudinal skull axis
- Anterior postorbital ramus lacking lateral wall with dorsoventral height less than half anteroposterior length
- Shallow dorsolateral depression on postorbital dorsal surface at junction between anterior and posterior rami
- Parietal with mediolaterally concave dorsal surface and lacking knob-like dorsal projection
- Ventral squamosal process slender and thorn-like lacking anterior kink
- Dorsal neural spines bearing elevated rim along anterior, dorsal and posterior margins in lateral view
- Proximal tibia articular surface margin between condyles obliquely orientated facing posterolaterally
Species
Koleken inakayali Pol et al., 2024
Type species
Named for Inakayal, one of the last chiefs of the Tehuelche people, the native inhabitants of central Patagonia, where the holotype was found.
- Holotype
- MPEF-PV 10826 , Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio"
- Material
- Partial skull and postcranial skeleton
- Horizon
- lower La Colonia Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 72.2–66.0 million years ago
- Locality
- Cerro Bayo Norte, Chubut, Argentina
References
- Pol, D.; Baiano, M. A.; Černý, D.; Novas, F. E.; Cerda, I. A.; Pittman, M. (2024). A new abelisaurid dinosaur from the end Cretaceous of Patagonia and evolutionary rates among the Ceratosauria. Cladistics 40(3): 307-356. Wiley. doi:10.1111/cla.12583 pol2024a
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Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.
Source of the mass and hip height estimates.
jones2026c