Open Paleo

Tratayenia

Porfiri et al., 2018 treh-ta-YAY-nee-uh

Named after Tratayén, the fossil site in Neuquén Province, Argentina, where the holotype skeleton was excavated

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

Tratayenia is an extinct genus of megaraptoran theropod dinosaurs known from remains found in the Late Cretaceous (Santonian age) Bajo de la Carpa Formation of Argentina. The type and only species, Tratayenia rosalesi, was described in March 2018.

Diagnosis

  1. Unique paired laminae in inverted 'Y' form extending from ventrolateral corner of anterior neural spine edge to base of prezygapophysis in middle dorsal vertebrae
  2. Paradiapophyseal lamina well-developed and continuous from dorsal 7 through at least dorsal 13, unlike reduced forms in Aerosteon and Murusraptor
  3. Hyposphenes of posterior dorsal vertebrae thin and blade-like dorsally, contrasting with robust forms in Aerosteon and Murusraptor
  4. Anterior and ventral margins of prezygapophyses nearly vertical and horizontal in lateral view when observed in middle and posterior dorsal vertebrae
  5. Posterior neural spines exhibiting progressive increase in height from dorsal 8 through dorsal 11
  6. Dorsal margin of ilium straight rather than slightly convex, with broadly rounded anterodorsal corner, differing from Aerosteon and Murusraptor

Species

Tratayenia rosalesi Porfiri et al., 2018

Type species

Named for Diego Rosales, the Universidad Nacional del Comahue technician who first discovered the holotype skeleton in 2006 at the Tratayén fossil site.

Holotype
MUCPv 1162 , Universidad Nacional del Comahue
Material
Well-preserved partial skeleton
Horizon
Bajo de la Carpa Formation, Santonian, Late Cretaceous , 85.7–83.6 million years ago
Locality
Los Pilares-Tratayén, Neuquén, Argentina

References

  1. Porfiri, J. D.; Juárez Valieri, R. D.; Santos, D. D. D.; Lamanna, M. C. (2018). A new megaraptoran theropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Bajo de la Carpa Formation of northwestern Patagonia. Cretaceous Research 89: 302-319. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.03.014 porfiri2018a