Gualicho

Gualichu (Tehuelche spirit)

• Gualichu · Tehuelche · a spirit or supernatural force in Patagonian tradition

Gualicho comes from "Gualichu", a name from Tehuelche (Patagonian) tradition for a spirit or supernatural force. It is a nod to the Patagonian setting of the discovery. The only known species, Gualicho shinyae, honours Akiko Shinya, the fossil preparator who found the specimen and worked on it.

Named by

Apesteguía et al.

Year named

2016

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Turonian

Found in

Huincul Formation, Río Negro Province, Patagonia, Argentina

A medium-sized theropod from Argentina. It had a very short two-fingered hand. Its exact position in the theropod family tree is debated. The stage and the details of the etymology are given with moderate confidence.