Cathartesaura

vulture (Cathartes) lizard

• Cathartes · Greek (via New Latin) · purifier; the genus of New World vultures
• saura · Greek · lizard

The name combines Cathartes, the genus of New World vultures (which includes the turkey vulture, Cathartes aura), with the Greek-derived "saura", meaning lizard. It was chosen as a reference to the vulture, which lives in the region where the fossils were found. The single species is Cathartesaura anaides.

Named by

Gallina and Apesteguía

Year named

2005

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stages

Cenomanian – Turonian

Found in

Huincul Formation, Río Negro Province, Patagonia, Argentina

A rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur. The etymology's link to the vulture is stated in general terms. I am not certain of the exact wording in the original description.