Open Paleo

Pneumatoraptor

Ősi et al., 2010 nu-MAT-o-RAP-tor

From Greek 'pneuma' meaning 'air' or 'breath', combined with Latin 'raptor' meaning 'thief', likely referring to pneumatic (air-filled) features in the bones.

85.7–83.6 million years ago Santonian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Pneumatoraptor is a genus of small paravian, possibly a dromaeosaurid, dinosaur that lived in Hungary. It is known from a single complete left shoulder girdle (scapulocoracoid) found in the Csehbánya Formation of the Iharkút locality in the Bakony Mountains of western Hungary. This formation dates to the late Cretaceous period (Santonian age) about 85 million years ago.

Under dispute

Pneumatoraptor fodori is based on a single scapulocoracoid, too incomplete for confident placement. Its describers placed it at Paraves without a finer resolution (Ősi and colleagues, 2010), noting dromaeosaurid-like features of the shoulder girdle. It is placed conservatively at Paraves incertae sedis.

Diagnosis

  1. Large, circular pneumatic foramen (2 mm diameter) located ventral to the coracoid foramen, opening towards the coracoid tubercle.
  2. Pneumatic foramen connects to the hollow interior of the scapular blade, as confirmed by cross-section during preparation.
  3. Scapulocoracoid is L-shaped with a deeply concave glenoid fossa oriented laterally and slightly ventrally.
  4. Coracoid displays a prominent reverse flexure of approximately 70° between its glenoid portion and the ventral coracoid blade.
  5. Coracoid foramen forms an almost anteroposteriorly oriented canal.

Species

Pneumatoraptor fodori Ősi et al., 2010

Type species

Named for Géza Fodor, who provided funding for the excavation at the Iharkút locality in Hungary.

Holotype
MTM V.2008.38.1 , Hungarian Natural History Museum
Material
Nearly complete left scapulocoracoid (fused scapula and coracoid).
Horizon
Csehbánya Formation, Santonian, Late Cretaceous , 85.7–83.6 million years ago
Locality
Iharkút, Bakony Mountains, Veszprém, Hungary

References

  1. Ősi, A.; Apesteguía, S.; Kowalewski, M. (2010). Non-avian theropod dinosaurs from the early Late Cretaceous of central Europe. Cretaceous Research 31(3): 304-320. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2010.01.001 ősi2010b