Meet the newest dinosaur king of South America: Joaquinraptor casali. This impressive predator stretched about 23 feet long and moved quickly, armed with massive claws that resembled “hedge trimmers.” Excavations reveal its remains, including parts of its skull and limbs, were found at the Lago Colhué Huapi Formation in Patagonia, Argentina. Interestingly, researchers discovered it clutched a crocodile’s leg bone in its jaws, showing it likely dominated the food chain.
Lucio Ibiricu, a paleontologist from Argentina’s CONICET, led the team that uncovered this remarkable fossil. They unearthed it over three field seasons, with hints of its existence first appearing in 2019. Ibiricu and his team also confirmed the dinosaur’s age through the study of its bones—it was at least 19 years old at the time of death and likely still growing. The newly emerged data gives us a deeper understanding of how these fascinating creatures lived before the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period.
Joaquinraptor falls into the megaraptor category, often called “large thieves.” These dinosaurs roamed not just South America but also parts of Asia and Australia, feasting on other animals with their sharp claws and powerful arms. Darla Zelenitsky, a paleontologist at the University of Calgary, emphasizes that this finding sheds light on how megaraptorans evolved, marking Joaquinraptor as one of the last examples before they vanished.
In terms of climate, the region where Joaquinraptor lived looked quite different from today’s Patagonia. Fossil evidence points to a warm, humid floodplain near the ocean—ideal for large predators. According to Ibiricu, the discovery offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of apex predators at that time.
Experts like Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh regard this find as notable, comparing Joaquinraptor with its North American counterpart, the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex. While T. rex was massive and powerful, Joaquinraptor was more agile and slender. This agility would have helped it hunt differently, utilizing speed and precision rather than sheer force.
These discoveries not only enhance our understanding of prehistoric predators but also underscore how they adapted to their environments. This finding contributes to ongoing discussions and research in paleontology, shedding light on the rich history of life on Earth. For more about similar discoveries, check resources like Nature Communications.
