Discovery of New Dinosaur Species in Argentina

Recently, scientists made an exciting discovery in Argentina’s popular tourist regions—new dinosaur fossils. One notable find is a dinosaur named Joaquinraptor casali, which measured around 23 feet long. These findings were documented in the journal Nature Communications on September 23rd.

Joaquinraptor casali roamed the Earth approximately 66 to 70 million years ago, during the time just before the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.

In their research, scientists excavated bones from the Lago Corfue Huapi rock formations in Patagonia, an area famous for its stunning glaciers, mountains, and diverse wildlife. The creature’s skull, limbs, and tail bones were found, with its leg bones intriguingly pressed against its jaw.

Additionally, leg bones correlated to ancient crocodile ancestors suggest that these dinosaurs were carnivorous, shedding light on the prehistoric food web of Patagonia.

The Joaquinraptor belonged to a group called Megaraptorans, which are known to have been discovered in parts of South America, Australia, and Asia. A unique characteristic of the bones indicates that this was indeed a new species.

One of the paleontologists involved, Lucio Ibilik from the Patagonian Institute of Geology and Paleontology, expressed enthusiasm about the find. He stated, “All kids love dinosaurs, so perhaps he’ll become a fan too,” highlighting the appeal that these ancient creatures hold for people of all ages. He also noted that Megaraptorans had “huge and extremely powerful claws.”

Another expert, Federico Agnolin from the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, emphasized the significance of this discovery, mentioning that it greatly enriches our understanding by providing one of the most complete skeletons ever found.

While there is uncertainty about the circumstances surrounding the dinosaur’s death, researchers estimate that it lived to be at least 19 years old. This find adds to a slew of intriguing paleontological discoveries occurring this year.

Earlier in 2025, paleontologists also uncovered a 566 million-year-old “moth-like” predator in Canada. Meanwhile, in Texas, crews stumbled upon massive ruins referred to as “big or animal.”