Riojavenatrix
| Riojavenatrix Temporal range: Early Cretaceous
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Family: | †Spinosauridae |
| Subfamily: | †Baryonychinae |
| Genus: | †Riojavenatrix Isasmendi et al., 2024 |
| Type species | |
| †Riojavenatrix lacustris Isasmendi et al., 2024
| |
Riojavenatrix (meaning La Rioja huntress") is a genus of spinosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous Enciso Group of La Rioja, Spain. The type species is Riojavenatrix lacustris.[1]
Discovery and naming
The holotype of Riojavenatrix is a fragmentary dorsal vertebra, pelvic girdle, and hindlimb elements.[1]
It was named as a new genus of spinosaurid theropod in 2024. The generic name, "Riojavenatrix", comes from La Rioja province in Spain, plus the Latin venatrix, meaning "huntress". The specific name, "lacustris", is Latin for "from the lake".[1]
Classification
Riojavenatrix was assigned by its describers to the Baryonychinae. It is one of the youngest baryonychines known, and the fifth spinosaurid found in the Iberian Peninsula.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Isasmendi, E.; Cuesta, E.; Díaz-Martínez, I.; Company, J.; Sáez-Benito, P.; Viera, L. I.; Torices, A.; Pereda-Suberbiola, P. (2024). "Increasing the theropod record of Europe: a new basal spinosaurid from the Enciso Group of the Cameros Basin (La Rioja, Spain). Evolutionary implications and palaeobiodiversity". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad193.
