| Alpkarakush Temporal range: Middle Jurassic–Callovian | |
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| Artist's illustration (Joschua Knüppe) of Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Infraorder: | Carnosauria |
| Superfamily: | Allosauroidae |
| Family: | Metriacanthosauridae |
| Subfamily: | Metriacanthosaurinae |
| Genus: | Alpkarakush Rauhut, 2024 |
| Species: | Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus Rauhut et al, 2024 |
Alpkarakush (named after a mythical bird from Kyrgyz folklore) is an extinct genus of metriacanthosaurid theropod dinosaur from Kyrgyzstan. The type species is Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus.
Discovery and Naming[]
The holotype (FTU-1) was discovered in sediments of Balabansai formation in Kyrgyzstan. In 2014, further excavation recovered the material. In 2023, an expedition found even more materials, including the teeth. In 2024, Rauhut described it as a new species of metriacanthosaurid theropod. The generic name is named after a powerful and mythical bird from Epic of Manas, while the specific name is named after Kyrgyzstan, where the taxon was found.
Description[]
The holotype contains skull bones, several fragmented dorsal vertebrae, five sacral vertebrae, ribs,a manual phalanx and ungual, fragmented pelvic girdle, most of the hind limbs, a left tarsal, metatarsals, a toe bone, and two unguals. It is a relatively large theropod, and it had orbital brows. It was 17 years old when it died, and it is likely growing slowly. it is 7-8 meters and likely 1.2 tonnes.
Classification[]
Alpkarakush is described a basal member of the subfamily Metriacanthosaurinae, housed in the family Metriacanthosauridae. The taxon has closest relativity to the more derived Metriacanthosaurus, Siamotyrannus, and Sinraptor.
Paleoecology[]
It coexisted with Ferganasaurus and an indeterminate stegosaur.
Gallery[]
