Exciting news in the world of paleontology! A newly identified dinosaur species, featuring a unique “eyebrow” protrusion, has been discovered in southwestern Kyrgyzstan.
Researchers have been uncovering remnants of this theropod over the past decade, culminating in a recent publication in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. This species has been named Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus and is believed to have roamed the Earth during the Middle Jurassic period, about 165 million years ago.
Joschua Knüppe
While the larger dinosaur’s skeleton was found to be only partially complete, estimates suggest it could measure between 23 and 26 feet in length. The second specimen seems to be a juvenile, with the larger one estimated to have been around 17 years old.
The research team noted, “A partial skeleton of a large theropod dinosaur from the late Middle Jurassic Balabansai Formation of Kyrgyzstan represents the first diagnosable theropod taxon from the Jurassic of Central Asia west of China,” thus establishing a new classification for Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus.
Theropods, distinguished by their hollow bones and three-toed limbs, include some of the most famous dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptors. These bipedal carnivores first emerged in the late Triassic and saw a rapid evolution throughout the Mesozoic era.
Before this finding, no theropod fossils had been documented between central Europe and China, making this discovery particularly significant for Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.
Initial excavations began in 2006, and more bones have been identified in recent digs up to 2023. The discovered remains comprise parts of the skull, vertebrae, and limbs, including an almost complete pelvic girdle.
Notably, the dinosaur’s skull features an unusual eyebrow bone, which raises the possibility of a horn situated just above its eye.
Oliver Rauhut
The research team created 3D models of the bones to facilitate further studies, with those models now being accessible online for researchers globally.
Experts believe that Alpkarakush is part of the metriacanthosaurids group, which likely originated in Southeast Asia and spread into Central Asia and Europe over time.
“While the relationship of Alpkarakush with the metriacanthosaurids was expected, this discovery fills a significant knowledge gap regarding Jurassic theropods, offering fresh insights into their evolution and biogeography,” noted co-author Oliver Rauhut from the Bavarian Collection of Paleontology and Geology in Munich.
References
Rauhut, O. W. M., Bakirov, A. A., Wings, O., Fernandes, A. E., & Hübner, T. R. (2024). A new theropod dinosaur from the Callovian Balabansai Formation of Kyrgyzstan. OUP Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae090