Patagonykus
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Patagonykus was an enignamatic "dinobird" from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina. This basal avialian was discovered in exposures of the Portezuelo Member (Turonian-Coniacian) of the Rio Neuquen Formation in the Neuquen Province of Patagonia. The holotype consists of an incomplete but well-preserved skeleton, lacking a skull, but including many vertebrae, the coracoids, a partial forelimb, pelvic girdle, and hindlimbs. Patagonykus ("Patagonian claw") has been classed with the Alvarezsauridae, a family which includes such taxa as the Mongolian Mononykus and the Argentinian Alvarezsaurus. Patagonykus is estimated to have been approximately 2 meters in length.
References
- Novas, F. E. 1997. Anatomy of Patagonykus puertai (Theropoda, Avialae, Alvarezsauridae), from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 17(1); 137-166.
- Novas, F. E. and Molnar, R. E. (eds.) 1996. Alvarezsauridae, Cretaceous basal birds from Patagonia and Mongolia. Proceedings of the Gondwanan Dinosaur Symposium, Brisbane. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 39(3):iv + 489-731; 675-702.
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