Open Paleo

Pamparaptor

Porfiri et al., 2011 PAM-pah-RAP-tuhr /ˈpɑːmpəræptər/

Named for the Pampas region of South America where it was found, combined with Latin 'raptor' meaning 'thief'; translates as 'thief of the Pampas'.

93.9–85.7 million years ago Turonian–Coniacian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Pamparaptor is an extinct genus of paravian theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Portezuelo Formation of the Neuquén province in Argentine Patagonia. Its precise classification is uncertain, but the authors who described this taxon have argued that it is a dromaeosaurid. The genus contains a single species, P. micros (from the Greek word for "small"), which is known from a single specimen consisting of a mostly complete and fully-articulated left foot, which preserves the iconic dromaeosaur-like "killing claw".

Under dispute

Pamparaptor is a small Patagonian deinonychosaur known only from a partial foot with a troodontid-like, subarctometatarsalian pes. Its describers interpreted it as a dromaeosaurid (Porfiri and colleagues, 2011), rejecting an earlier referral to Neuquenraptor; possible unenlagiine affinities have been suggested, and Novas and colleagues (2013) could place it only as an indeterminate paravian. It is placed at Dromaeosauridae incertae sedis following its describers.

Diagnosis

  1. Slender metatarsal construction with metatarsal IV strongly compressed transversely on distal half, blade-like in caudal view
  2. Metatarsals IV and III subequal in length
  3. Proximal half of metatarsal III narrow with subparallel margins along its length
  4. Metatarsal III lacking distal ginglymus
  5. Metatarsal II distally overlapping metatarsal III
  6. Proximally, metatarsal II approximately twice as wide as metatarsals III and IV
  7. Phalanx II-2 longer than phalanx II-1
  8. Distal end of metatarsal II with small medially-directed sulcus in cranial view

Species

Pamparaptor micros Porfiri et al., 2011

Type species

From Ancient Greek 'mikros' meaning 'small', referring to the diminutive size of the animal.

Holotype
MUCPv-1163 , Universidad Nacional del Comahue
Material
Articulated left foot: three metatarsals, complete second toe, two phalanges each of third and fourth toes
Horizon
Portezuelo Formation, Turonian–Coniacian, Late Cretaceous , 93.9–85.7 million years ago
Locality
Baal Quarry on the north coast of Barreales Lake, Neuquén, Argentina

References

  1. Porfiri, J. D.; Calvo, J. O.; Santos, D. dos (2011). A new small deinonychosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagônia, Argentina. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 83(1): 109-116. FapUNIFESP (SciELO). doi:10.1590/s0001-37652011000100007 porfiri2011a
  2. Novas, F. E.; Agnolín, F. L.; Ezcurra, M. D.; Porfiri, J.; Canale, J. I. (2013). Evolution of the carnivorous dinosaurs during the Cretaceous: The evidence from Patagonia. Cretaceous Research 45: 174-215.

    Review of Cretaceous carnivorous dinosaurs could only place Pamparaptor as an indeterminate paravian.

    novas2013a