Scientists Uncover New Dinosaur with Crocodile Remains in Its Jaws

Researchers digging in Argentina have uncovered a new type of ancient dinosaur that once roamed the Earth millions of years ago.

Their discovery, detailed in an article published in Nature Communications on Tuesday, Sept. 23, describes the dinosaur as a form of Megaraptoran, a “group of large-clawed carnivorous” dinosaurs that used to live in Asia, Australia and South America.

The new dinosaur was named Joaquinraptor casali, in memory of Lucio M. Ibiricu’s son Joaquin. Ibiricu, a researcher at the Patagonian Institute of Geology and Paleontology, told the Associated Press that his son wasn’t old enough to be interested in dinosaurs, but believes Joaquin would have enjoyed the nod anyway.

“All children love dinosaurs so he would probably be a fan too,” he told the outlet.

The partial skeleton, unearthed from the Lago Colhué Huapi Formation, is not only “among the most completely represented and latest-surviving megaraptorans,” it also appeared to have been eating another prehistoric creature around the time of its death.

A limb bone from a crocodyliform, a predecessor of the modern crocodile, was preserved in between its jaws, which could shed light on the dinosaur species’ “dietary preferences and feeding strategies.”

The ancient animal likely lived about 66 to 70 million years ago, the AP reported.

Researchers believe this specific Joaquinraptor was at least 19 years old when it died, according to the study.

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“It is among the most complete megaraptoran skeletons yet known to science,” the article’s co-author, paleontologist Matt Lamanna, told Reuters, which also reported the animal could have at one point spanned 23 feet and weighed a ton.

Scientists said the skeletal remains included bits of the creature’s skull, ribs, legs and more.