New Dromaeosaurids (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the lower cretaceous of Utah, and the evolution of the Dromaeosaurid tail.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Yellow Cat Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian?--Aptian) of Utah has yielded a rich theropod fauna, including the coelurosaur Nedcolbertia justinhofmanni, the therizinosauroid Falcarius utahensis, the troodontid Geminiraptor suarezarum, and the dromaeosaurid Utahraptor ostrommaysorum. Recent excavation has uncovered three new dromaeosaurid specimens. One specimen, which we designate the holotype of the new genus and species Yurgovuchia doellingi, is represented by a partial axial skeleton and a partial left pubis. A second specimen consists of a right pubis and a possibly associated radius. The third specimen consists of a tail skeleton that is unique among known Cedar Mountain dromaeosaurids.

Methodology/principal findings

Y. d

SUBMITTER: Senter P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3352940 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature