Boreonykus

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Boreonykus
Temporal range:
Ma
↓
Restoration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Family: †Dromaeosauridae
Clade: †Eudromaeosauria
Subfamily: †Velociraptorinae
Genus: †Boreonykus
Currie
, 2015
Type species
†Boreonykus certekorum
Bell & Currie, 2015

Boreonykus is an extinct

dromaeosaurid dinosaur, that lived during the Late Cretaceous in the area of present Canada
.

Fragmentary dromaeosaurid remains were discovered in the eighties at the

Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai.[1] They were initially partly referred to a Saurornitholestes sp in 2001.[2]

The

Philip John Currie in 2015. The genus name is a variation of "Boreonychus", "northern claw". The specific name certekorum references the Certek company, that works in the oil industry and provided financial support for the excavations.[1]

The holotype specimen of Boreonykus, TMP 1989.055.0047, was found in a layer of the Wapiti Formation in central Alberta, which dates from the late Campanian, 73.27 ± 0.25 million years ago. It consists of a right frontal bone. Fourteen loose teeth have been referred to the species, as well as several postcranial bones, perhaps of the same individual: the specimen TMP 1988.055.0129, a rear caudal vertebra; UALVP 53597, a claw of the second finger, and the specimen TMP 1986.055.0184.1, a sickle claw of the foot.[1]

A single autapomorphy, unique derived trait, was indicated: the ridges bordering the fronts of the depressions around the supratemporal fenestrae form an acute angle of 55° together, pointing to the rear.[1]

Boreonykus was, within the Dromaeosauridae, placed in the Velociraptorinae. It was seen as both an indication of faunal provincialism and a quick species turn-over rate.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1080/02724634.2015.1034359
    .
  2. ISBN 0-253-33907-3
    .
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