RE: New species Unenlagia paynemili?

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Brad McFeeters wrote:

> Calvo, J.O., Porfiri, J.D. & Kellner, A.W., 2004.  On a new maniraptoran 
> dinosaur (Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Neuquen, Patagonia, 
> Argentina.  Rev. Mus. Argentino Cienc. Nat. NS 6: 61-66.
>
> Has this not been posted on the DML yet?  Anyone actually have this paper, 
> or the abstract?

Not me.  :-(

But... I would guess that _Unenlagia paynemili_ is the theropod described 
here:

Calvo, J.O., Porfiri, J.D. and Kellner, A.W.A. (2003).  A close relative of 
_Unenlagia comahuensis_ (Theropoda, Maniraptora) from the Upper Cretaceous 
of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina.  18º Congresso Brasileiro de 
Paleontologia, Brasilia, Resumos: 82-83.


Abstract: "The excavation at the ?Futalognko? site, situated at the margins 
of the Los Barreales lake about 95 km northwest of Neuquén city (Patagonia), 
revealed several new dinosaur specimens.  The sedimentary rocks at that site 
belong to the Portezuelo Formation (Rio Neuquén Group) and consist of green 
sandstones intercalated with red mudstones.  Among the new specimens 
recovered during 2002 are the left humerus and pubis of one individual that 
shares several features with the Maniraptoran _Unenlagia comahuensis_ Novas 
& Puerta (1997).  The humerus of the ?Barreales form? is almost complete, 
lacking a few parts of the proximal and distal articulations.  Except for 
being smaller (ca. 20%), this element shows an almost identical morphology 
to _Unenlagia comahuensis_.  The proximal articulation is large and 
inflected relative to the main axis; the shaft is straight and slender.  The 
internal tuberosity is anteroposteriorly compressed and longitudinally 
elongated, similar to the condition observed in _Unenlagia comahuensis_, 
_Archaeopteryx_ and _Deinonychus_.  The angle between the distal end of the 
deltopectoral crest and the shaft in the ?Barreales form? is slightly more 
closed than in _Unenlagia comahuensis_.  Based on the proximal articulation, 
the pubis of the ?Los Barreales form? is oriented vertically what is 
regarded as a synapomorphy of the Maniraptora.  The distal end is curved 
posteriorly as in _Unenlagia comahuensis_ (possible a synapomorphy uniting 
both) and differing from the straight condition found in many other 
maniraptorans (e.g., _Deinonychus_ and _Velociraptor_) and from the 
anteriorly curved distal end present in _Microvenator_, _Caudipteryx_ and 
the Oviraptoridae (e.g., _Oviraptor_, _Ingenia_).  The pubic apron is well 
developed and occupies over half the length of the pubic shaft, similar to 
_Unenlagia comahuensis_, _Caudipteryx_ and _Deinonychus_ but differs from 
the comparatively reduced condition found in _Archaeopteryx_, _Rahonavis_, 
and the oviraptorid _Ingenia_.  The proximal medial corner of the pubic 
apron in the new specimen is deflected posteriorly similarly to _Unenlagia 
comahuenis_ and dromaeosaurids.  The pubic boot of the ?Los Barreales form? 
has a well developed posterior projection (common to several maniraptorans) 
and shows a small anterior projection; the latter is the main difference 
from _Unenlagia comahuensis_ that lacks any anterior projection.  A possible 
manual ungual was also found at the site and is here tentatively referred to 
the ?Barreales form?.  The most interesting feature is the presence of two 
accessory channels at the proximal part, one above the other bellow the main 
sulcus situated on the lateral surface of the claw.  Although this specimen 
is known from only two bones (three, if the manual ungual is included), 
their morphology clearly indicate the presence of an _Unenlagia_-like 
dinosaur at the Futalognko site.  Based on their overall similarity, 
reinforced by a potential synapomorphy uniting both (the posteriorly 
oriented distal end of the pubis), the ?Barreales form? is referable to the 
genus _Unenlagia_.  However, some discrete anatomical differences, 
particularly the presence of a small anterior process at the pubic boot, 
suggests that the Barreales form represents a new species.