Condorraptor

Kon-dore-rap-tor.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Condorraptor ‭(‬Condor thief‭ ‬-‭ ‬named after Cerro Condor‭)‬.

Phonetic

Kon-dore-rap-tor.

Named By

O.‭ ‬W.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Rauhut‭ ‬-‭ ‬2005.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurichia,‭ ‬Theropoda,‭ ‬Megalosauroidea.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

C.‭ ‬currumili‭

Size

Estimated about‭ ‬4‭ ‬to‭ ‬5‭ ‬meters long for holotype individual. Possible adult size estimated at about 8 meters long.

Known locations

Argentina,‭ ‬Chubut Province‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ca�ad�n Asfalto Formation.

Time Period

Callovian of the Jurassic.

Fossil representation

Partial post cranial skeletal remains,‭ ‬including pelvis,‭ ‬hind leg and various vertebrae.‭

In Depth

       Initially described from a tibia‭ (‬one of the lower leg bones‭)‬,‭ ‬a second discovery in‭ ‬2007‭ ‬revealed much more of the skeleton of Condorraptor,‭ ‬allowing for a clearer picture of Condorraptor to come to light.‭ ‬Condorraptor was a mid-sized theropod that may have been similar to the famous Megalosaurus,‭ ‬the first dinosaur genus to be ever named.‭ ‬In addition to this Condorraptor may have been related to the similarly sized Piatnitzkysaurus which is also known from the same formation as Condorraptor.‭ ‬As a midsized theropod,‭ ‬Condorraptor would have been a predator of other dinosaurs,‭ ‬quite probably early sauropods and ornithischian dinosaurs.

       The name Condorraptor raptor is often‭ ‬confused as being a reference to a condor bird,‭ ‬but in actuality the condor part of the name is actually a reference to Cerro Condor,‭ ‬a village in Chubut Province near where the holotype fossils of Condorraptor were discovered.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Osteology and relationships of a new theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Patagonia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Palaeontology‭ ‬48‭(‬1‭)‬:87-110.‭ ‬-‭ ‬O.‭ ‬W.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Rauhut‭ ‬-‭ ‬2005. -‭ ‬A fragmentary theropod skull from the Middle Jurassic of Patagonia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ameghiniana‭ ‬44‭(‬2‭)‬:479-483.‭ ‬-‭ ‬O.‭ ‬W.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Rauhut‭ ‬-‭ ‬2007.

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