Orkoraptor

Orko thief (usually given as 'hill thief')

• Orko · Tehuelche · hill (as usually cited)
• raptor · Latin · robber, thief

Orkoraptor combines a Tehuelche (Patagonian Indigenous) word, "orko", with the Latin "raptor", meaning robber or thief. The first part is usually given as "hill", which would fit the Patagonian hill country where the fossils were found. The only species, Orkoraptor burkei, honours Michael Burke, a supporter of the research.

Named by

Novas et al.

Year named

2008

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Maastrichtian

Found in

Cerro Fortaleza Formation, Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina

A theropod known from fragmentary remains. It was originally interpreted as a megaraptoran (or a close relative) and is generally placed there today. The meaning of the Tehuelche root "orko" is given with some uncertainty.