Santanaraptor

Selettrekonstruktion of Santanaraptor placidus

• Brazil ( Santana Formation)

• Santanaraptor placidus

Santanaraptor is a genus of relatively small theropod dinosaurs. Fossils of this predator are from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil and described by paleontologist Alexander Kellner in 1999. The only way is Santanaraptor placidus.

Features

Santanaraptor like all theropods moved away bipedal and was about 1.3 meters long. From other theropods, it can be the basis of features in the femur and fibula differ; For example, the cranial trochanter of the femur showed an opening at its base.

Fund and naming

So far, a single fragmentary skeleton is only known, which consists of seat legs ( ischium ), the hind limbs, tail vertebrae and some other, not determinable bones. This skeleton is from the Romualdo - layer member of the Santana Formation in northeastern Brazil and can be dated to the Albian ( million years ago is approximately 113 to 100). In conjunction with the skeletal remains mineralized tissue have been found, showing, inter alia, the muscle fibers.

Santanaraptor is named after its location, the Santana Formation, named. Santana is the short form of the Saint Anne (Portuguese Santa Ana ). The ending raptor comes from the Latin and means something like " thief ". The Artepitheth placidus honoring Placido Cidada Nuvens, which thereby Half to protect the site.

System

The relationships of this genus are controversial. Kellner (1999 ) described as Santanaraptor not einordbaren representatives of Coelurosauria. While Thomas Holtz (2004) Santanaraptor holds for a representative of Tyrannosauroidea, Martinez and Novas (2006) hold a position within the Maniraptoriformes likely.