Patagopteryx

Patagonian wing

• Patago- · Latinised place name · Patagonia, the region of southern South America where it was found
• pteryx · Greek · wing (or feather)

The name combines Patagonia, the region of Argentina where the fossils were found, with the Greek "pteryx", meaning wing. It translates as "Patagonian wing". It is a slightly ironic name, because this early bird had reduced wings and was probably unable to fly.

Named by

Alvarenga and Bonaparte

Year named

1992

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Santonian

Found in

Bajo de la Carpa Formation, Río Negro Province, Patagonia, Argentina

A chicken-sized, probably flightless early bird (avialan). Birds are living dinosaurs, so it counts as a dinosaur in the cladistic sense. The type species is Patagopteryx deferrariisi.