New dinosaur species unveiled in Argentina

Technology

New dinosaur species unveiled in Argentina

Close

Scientists reveal a newly discovered dinosaur species in Argentina.

27 June,2012 06:47 am

Scientists in Buenos Aires unveiled a new species of dinosaur related to the giant Tyrannosaurus, the smaller Velociraptor and modern day birds on Tuesday.Officials from the Argentine Museum of Natural Science dubbed the prehistoric creature, Bicentenaria argentina, to mark the 200-year anniversary of the museum and just over 200 years of Argentine independence.Paleontologist Fernando Novas displayed a skeleton of the beast made up of 130 original bones.Researchers say Bicentenaria likely measured between 2.5 and 3 metres (8 and 10 feet) long and was slim and agile.Novas said the carnivorous dinosaur represents a new line leading to the evolution of modern day birds and may have been partially or completely covered in feathers itself.This new discovery at Argentinas bicentenary is of particular interest because it corresponds to a primitive representative of a line of carnivorous dinosaurs that got smaller in terms of their body. The Bicentenaria isnt one of the biggest dinosaurs, it is approximately 2.50 meters (8 feet) long, but it is part of a group that ends up with the origins of gigantic creatures like Tyrannosaurs and others that arent so big like the Velociraptor and ultimately those feathered dinosaurs with long arms but that are actually quite small which are birds. This means that the Bicentenaria is a distant ancestor that at the end of the bridge leads to birds. So we are seeing the great great grandfather of birds, Novas said.The shape of its sharp curved teeth and its long claws suggest Bicentenaria hunted other smaller dinosaurs, the scientist said.The bones were discovered in Rio Negro in Argentinas Patagonia region and are thought to be approximately 90 million years old.