A new species of dinosaur has been discovered in Paraná state, Brazil.
Source: TNOnline (Translated to English)
A new dinosaur species was discovered in Cruzeiro do Oeste paleontological site. The news was announced in this Monday’s morning (24) by Cruzeiro do Oeste Paleontological Museum in partnership with Maringá State University (UEM) and São Paulo University – USP.
The discovery, unprecendented in world, confirms that dinosaurs inhabited northwest region of Paraná, fact until now ignored.
More details about the discovery were disclosed in June 26.
Source: Paraná portal (Translated to English)
Scientists announced discovery of the first dinosaur of Paraná in this Wednesday (26). Named “Vespersaurus Paranaensis“, the fossils were found in a paleontological site Cruzeiro do Oeste, in northwest of state.
It is estimated that the species lived 90 millions years ago. With close relatives in Argentina and Africa, dinosaur had around 1.5 meters length and was carnivorous. In addition to that, your locomotion was only with a finger in foot, despite being bipedal.
“The support were given in a central finger and the side fingers were used to cut, probably in predation. The species isn’t known in any other world region, only have known relatives”, told researcher Max Langer in interview to CBN Maringá radio.
He worked with scientists from Maringá State University and Cruzeiro do Oeste Paleontological Museum. They gave the name “Vespersaurus Paranaensis“, which means “dinosaur of west”.
“I am involved in this study around one year. This time was enough to identify that it is an unique animal, with until now unknown features”, completed Langer.
Vespersaurus Paranaensis lived in Cretaceous, the last dinosaur period, was from 146 to 65 millions of years ago. The three dinosaur periods are called Mesozoic era.
Bones of newly discovered dinosaur. Vespersaurus was a theropod, bipedal carnivorous group with small arms.
Source: Revista Planeta
New dinosaur subgroup, Noasaurinae, covers small reptiles until now known only in Argentina and Madagascar, with possible occurrences in India. This data reinforces the idea that the lands were united during Cretaceous, with probable connection with Antarctica.
“In analogy to velociraptor, which Vespersaurus isn’t related, it probably used feet claw to capture and tear apart preys, which could be lizards and pterosaurus which we known lived in the region”, claims paleontologist Max Langer, professor of Ribeirão Preto Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters (FFCLRP) and leader of study.
The region where fossils have been found have rocks formed in desert environment, it suggests that Vespesaurus was adapted to this type of climate. In the same site have been discovered the Gueragama sulamericana lizard and many Caiuajara dobruskii pterosaurus. The area must have more paleontological news, observes Neurides Martins, director of Cruzeiro do Oeste Paleontological Museum.
