Story perspectives

New Patagonian Raptor Species Links to Chinese Velociraptors

6/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Paleontologists led by Matías Motta, a paleontologist, announced a new raptor species from southern Patagonia, Argentina.
The Argentine raptor shares the distinctive curved claw seen in Chinese velociraptors.
The two lineages share a common ancestor from the era of the supercontinent.
The discovery was reported in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
The fossil was uncovered in 2026, just before a snowstorm halted the excavation that began in 2018.

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Story summary

Paleontologists led by Matías Motta, a paleontologist, announced a new raptor species from southern Patagonia, Argentina.
The Argentine raptor shares the distinctive curved claw seen in Chinese velociraptors.
The two lineages share a common ancestor from the era of the supercontinent.
The discovery was reported in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
The fossil was uncovered in 2026, just before a snowstorm halted the excavation that began in 2018.