Mahuidacursor
From Mapudungun 'mahuida' meaning 'mountain' and Latin 'cursor' meaning 'runner'; translates as 'mountain runner'.
Late Cretaceous stages
Mahuidacursor is a genus of basal ornithopod dinosaur from the Santonian Bajo de la Carpa Formation of the Neuquén Basin in northern Patagonia, Argentina. The type and only species is M. lipanglef.
Diagnosis
- Dorsal ribs not distally thickened, bearing articulation surface restricted to anterolateral margin
- First dorsal vertebra with rectangular dorsal neural spine
- First and second dorsal centra as long as last cervical centrum
- Dorsal centra relatively long, increasing moderately in length throughout sequence
- Posterior process of coracoid scarcely developed
- Humerus length subequal to scapular length
- Long and slender scapula with posterior end narrower than proximal end
- Poorly developed humeral head
- Rudimentary deltopectoral crest
- Humeral shaft strongly bowed
Species
Mahuidacursor lipanglef Cruzado-Caballero et al., 2019
Type species
From the Mapuche 'lipang' meaning 'arm' and 'lef' meaning 'lightly', in reference to the gracile nature of the specimen, particularly the slender architecture of its forelimbs.
- Holotype
- MAU-Pv-CO-596 , Museo Argentino Urquiza, Rincón de los Sauces
- Material
- Partial articulated postcranial skeleton including last four cervical and six anterior dorsal vertebrae with ribs, pectoral girdle (scapulae, coracoids, sternal plates), four intercostal plates, and complete right forelimb.
- Horizon
- upper Bajo de la Carpa Formation, Santonian, Late Cretaceous , 85.7–83.6 million years ago
- Locality
- Cerro Overo, Neuquén, Argentina
References
- Cruzado-Caballero, P.; Gasca, J. M.; Filippi, L. S.; Cerda, I. A.; Garrido, A. C. (2019). A new ornithopod dinosaur from the Santonian of Northern Patagonia (Rincón de los Sauces, Argentina). Cretaceous Research 98: 211-229. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2019.02.014 cruzado-caballero2019a