Ischigualasto Provincial Park surprises once again with aunique discovery. A team from the Institute and Museum of Natural Sciences at the National University of San Juan discovered a dinosaur that was bipedal and carnivorous, which lived about 230 million years ago.
The specimen, named Anteavis crurilongus, measured about 1.60 meters (5 feet 3 inches) long and weighed just over 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds). Its name means "ancestor of long-legged birds," referring to its disproportionate limbs.
Anteavis crurilongus
A discovery that reveals the past
According to Ricardo Martínez, head of the expedition, "it was the size of a turkey, but with a tail". The team determined that it was about 12 years old at the time of its death and that its tibia was especially long, a trait that set it apart from other dinosaurs of its era.
Geologist Carina Colombi explained that Anteavis lived in an environment very different from today. The region was part of the supercontinent Pangea, with a warm and arid climate, vast savannas, and vegetation composed of conifers, palm trees, and ferns.
Characteristics of the dinosaur
Anteavis was bipedal, carnivorous, and small in size, which allowed it to move nimbly among the vegetation. Microscopic analyses of its bones helped estimate its age and physical development.
La geóloga Carina Colombi explicó que Anteavis vivió en un entorno muy distinto al actual
The discovery also provides information about the evolution of birds. Its long legs bring it closer to the ancestors of birds, reinforcing the theory that some dinosaurs developed features similar to those of modern birds.
Ischigualasto: a paradise for paleontologists
The park, in addition to its impressive geoforms and unique landscapes, continues to establish itself as a global reference in paleontology. Each new discovery, such as that of Anteavis crurilongus, reaffirms it as "the paradise of paleontologists", according to experts.
