A study is providing a glimpse into dinosaur and bird diversity in Patagonia during the Late Cretaceous, just before the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct. The fossils represent the first record of theropods, a dinosaur group that includes both modern birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur relatives, from the Chilean portion of Patagonia. The researchers’ finds include giant megaraptors with large sickle-like claws and birds similar to todays ducks and geese. "The fauna of Patagonia leading up to the mass extinction was really diverse," said lead author Sarah Davis, who completed this work as part of her doctoral studies with Professor Julia Clarke at the UT Jackson School of Geosciences Department of Geological Sciences. "You’ve got your large theropod carnivores and smaller carnivores as well as these bird groups coexisting alongside other reptiles and small mammals."
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