Newly Discovered Dinosaur Species Found with Crocodile remains Suggests Apex Predator Diet
CHUBUT, ARGENTINA – Paleontologists in Argentina have unearthed a new species of megaraptor dinosaur, Joaquinraptor, and remarkably, it’s fossilized remains were discovered alongside the bones of a crocodile, suggesting the apex predator died while feeding. The discovery,detailed in a recent study,provides valuable insight into the dinosaur’s predatory behavior and offers a glimpse into the ecosystem of Patagonia during the Late Cretaceous period.
the Joaquinraptor, named by paleontologist Federico Ibiricu in memory of his son Joaquin, lived approximately 70 million years ago. The well-preserved skeletal remains – including a skull, vertebrae, feet, claws, and limbs – indicate the dinosaur was at least 19 years old at the time of its death. The presence of crocodile bones found alongside the Joaquinraptor suggests the dinosaur was actively consuming the reptile when it perished, offering direct evidence of its diet. This finding is especially significant as fragmentary remains are all that typically survive from most megaraptor species, leaving much about their lives shrouded in mystery.
Megaraptors,first identified in 1998,are characterized by their long skulls,large claws,slender builds,and relatively high intelligence. Joaquinraptor is among the last known megaraptors to have lived before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that wiped out most dinosaur species around 66 million years ago.”This is a fantastic discovery and one of the most intriguing new dinosaur discoveries in recent memory,” said Steve Brusatte,a paleontologist at the university of Edinburgh,scotland,who was not involved in the study,in a statement to Live Science.
Ibiricu stated that he believes his son, had he lived, would have been a fan of naming a dinosaur after him, noting, “All children love dinosaurs, so he would probably be a fan too.” scientists have yet to determine the exact cause of the Joaquinraptor’s death, but the circumstances of its discovery offer a compelling snapshot of a predator at the end of its reign. Further research on the fossil is expected to reveal more about the dinosaur’s physiology, behavior, and place in the prehistoric food web.
