Pronunciation: al-nuh-sheh-tree
Meaning: Skinny thighs
Author/s: Makovicky et al. (2012)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Río Negro, Argentina
Discovery Chart Position: #818
Alnashetri cerropoliciensis
Alnashetri was discovered at "La Buitrera" in the Candeleros Formation, which is home to another small theropod: a dromaeosaurid called Buitreraptor. However, the two are easily distinguished by features of their ankles, which is fortunate because Alnashetri is known only from a pair of legs and their ankles are the only comparable parts.
Peter J. Makovicky and pals reckon Alnashetri is an alvarezsaurid, which would mean that that particular group of theropod dinosaurs were present in the Neuquén Basin throughout the entire Late Cretaceous period and make Alnashetri the oldest Argentinian alvarezsaurid of them all.
Peter J. Makovicky and pals reckon Alnashetri is an alvarezsaurid, which would mean that that particular group of theropod dinosaurs were present in the Neuquén Basin throughout the entire Late Cretaceous period and make Alnashetri the oldest Argentinian alvarezsaurid of them all.
(Skinny thighs from Cerro Policía)Etymology
In Gennaken (aka
Gününa Küne), a dialect of the ancient Tehuelche People who inhabited the Rio Negro (Black River) steppes, Alnashetri literally means "skinny thighs".
The species epithet, cerropoliciensis, means "from Cerro Policía" in Latin.
Discovery
The remains of Alnashetri were discovered in the Candeleros Formation at "La Buitrera", Cerro Policía village, El Cuy, Río Negro, Argentina.
The fossil site, listed in early chronicles as "Avila Ranch", was discovered during expeditions by Walther Schiller and James Roth of the Museo de La Plata way back in 1922, but the exact location was a bit of a mystery. Even an old dear called Filomena Avila, who had lived there all her life, could remember nothing of fossil discoveries. At 103 years old she can be forgiven the odd lapse in memory but, as it happens, she was fibbing. Filomena was actually a guide on the earliest expeditions but was withholding the location for fear of looters selling Argentina's ancient historical relics to foreign lands. The holotype (MPCA-477) is a partial left thigh, both shins, a right calf, and a foot.
