Paleontologists from Argentina and Japan have uncovered fossils of a previously unknown predatory dinosaur that lived approximately 66 million years ago in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz.
The newly identified species, named Kank australis, belongs to the family Unenlagia—a group anatomically close to birds. Weighing about 27 kilograms, this ancient reptile is distinguished by its conical teeth and raised claws on its feet, features that differentiate it from velociraptors of the Northern Hemisphere. Researchers drew the species’ name from the mythology of the Tehuelche Indians.
“The description of Kank australis is important for several reasons,” explained Mathias Motta, one of the study’s authors. “Firstly, we are adding a new species to the Unenlagia family, which remains poorly represented in paleontological databases due to the fragility and delicacy of their bones.”
The findings were published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Experts note this discovery confirms a link between the ancient fauna of Patagonia and Antarctica, where similar relatives have been previously recorded.
