The media release describing the discovery of the Patagonian theropod Joaquinraptor casali included some amazing photographs. For example, one of the photographs we received showed a megaraptor hand claw from the quarry.  The specimen had already been partially removed from the matrix.  It had already been numbered ready for cataloguing.  In addition, the specimen (a manus ungual), was in remarkable condition.  We think it is the manus ungual from the second digit.

Joaquinraptor hand claw just after excavation. A hand claw of the new megaraptor species Joaquinraptor casali just after its removal from the quarry that yielded this dinosaur. Picture credit: Marcelo Luna, Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados Dr. Rubén Martínez, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco.

Picture credit: Marcelo Luna, Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados Dr. Rubén Martínez, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco.

To read our earlier post about the discovery of Joaquinraptor: A New Species of Patagonian Megaraptor is Announced.

A Megaraptor Hand Claw

Members of the Megaraptoridae family had unusual forelimbs. In contrast to abelisaurids and tyrannosaurs their forelimbs were elongated. Furthermore, the digits were also enlarged (digits I and II). Digit I had an enormous claw. The claw on digit II although smaller was also substantial.  In contrast, digit III was considerably smaller and the claw was also much reduced.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Latest Cretaceous megaraptorid theropod dinosaur sheds light on megaraptoran evolution and palaeobiology” by Lucio M. Ibiricu, Matthew C. Lamanna, Bruno N. Alvarez, Ignacio A. Cerda, Julieta L. Caglianone, Noelia V. Cardozo, Marcelo Luna and Rubén D. Martínez published in Nature Communications.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.