Pronunciation: PEE-tuh-koon-SOR-us
Meaning: Discovery lizard
Author/s: Filippi and Garrido (2008)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Neuquén, Argentina
Discovery Chart Position: #646
Pitekunsaurus macayai
Luis Macaya's discovery lizardEtymology
Pitekunsaurus is derived from the Mapudungun "pitekun" (to discover) and the Greek "sauros" (lizard). Mapudungun, from "mapu" (earth) and "dungun" (speak), is a language spoken by the indigenous Mapuche, from "mapu" (earth) and "che" (people), of south-central Chile and west central Argentina.The species epithet, macayai, honors Luis Macaya, the oil company explor
Discovery
The remains of Pitekunsaurus were discovered at Cañadón de Aguada Grande in mudstone levels of the Anacleto Formation (Neuquén Group), Rincón de los Sauces, Neuquén Province, Argentina, by Luis Macaya in April 2004.
The holotype (MAU-Pv-AG-446) is a partial skeleton including a braincase, a tooth, four neck vertebrae, three back vertebrae, four tail vertebrae, a right lower arm, a shoulder blade, a piece of thigh, some rib fragments and a few unidentifiable scraps.
