Pronunciation: SPEC-tro-VEN-uh-tuh
Meaning: Ghost hunter
Author/s: Zaher et al. (2020)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Minas Gerais, Brazil
Discovery Chart Position: #1034
Spectrovenator ragei
(Rage's ghost hunter)Etymology
Spectrovenator is derived from the Latin "spectrum (ghost) and "venator" (hunter)", in reference to the holotype specimen being found unexpectedly beneath the holotype of the herbivorous Tapuiasaurus macedoi while the latter was being partially prepared in the field.
The species epithet, ragei, honours Dr Jean-Claude Rage for his contribution to the knowledge base of the paleobiogeography of continental Mesozoic vertebrates.
ZooBank registry: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E3C6B4F7-7097-4472-BEB6-1593966BB1D8.
Discovery
The remains of Spectrovenator were discovered in the Quiricó Formation (Areado Group, Sanfranciscana Basina) at the Embira Branca Range—a locality close to the Coração de Jesus Municipality—of northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil.The holotype (MZSP-PV 833) is a partially articulated skeleton consisting of an almost complete skull and mandibles, partially preserved vertebrae and ribs from the neck and back, complete sacrum, partially preserved series of tail vertebrae, complete pelvic girdle and hindlimbs.
