Ypupiara lopai is an extinct species of theropod that inhabited during the Cretaceous period, specifically in what is now Brazil. This dinosaur belongs to the group of unenlagines, a subfamily within the dromaeosaurids, known for its similarity to modern birds. Its name, "Ypupiara", comes from the Tupi-Guarani and means "the one who lives in the water", reflecting the possible association of this animal with aquatic or semi-aquatic environments.
The fossils attributed to Ypupiara lopai were found in rock formations from the Late Cretaceous in Brazil, but unfortunately, the known material is fragmentary, making a detailed reconstruction of its anatomy difficult. The remains consist mainly of pieces of the jaw and teeth, which suggest that it was a medium-sized dinosaur, with an agile body and adapted for hunting.
In terms of anatomical features, this theropod probably had an elongated jaw with teeth adapted to capture small prey, such as fish or reptiles. This supports the hypothesis that it could have had piscivorous or generalist carnivorous habits. In addition, like other members of the unenlagins, it is likely to have had feathers and robust hind limbs, designed for running and balance.
The discovery of Ypupiara lopai is significant because it fills a gap in the fossil record of unenlagins in South America, a group that had previously been identified mainly in Patagonia. This discovery reinforces the idea that unenlagins had a much wider distribution in the southern hemisphere during the Cretaceous. Although much of its biology remains speculative due to the scarcity of fossil remains, Ypupiara lopai represents an important step in understanding the diversity and evolution of theropods in Gondwana.
Approximate measurements of the Ypupiara:
The fossils attributed to Ypupiara lopai were found in rock formations from the Late Cretaceous in Brazil, but unfortunately, the known material is fragmentary, making a detailed reconstruction of its anatomy difficult. The remains consist mainly of pieces of the jaw and teeth, which suggest that it was a medium-sized dinosaur, with an agile body and adapted for hunting.
In terms of anatomical features, this theropod probably had an elongated jaw with teeth adapted to capture small prey, such as fish or reptiles. This supports the hypothesis that it could have had piscivorous or generalist carnivorous habits. In addition, like other members of the unenlagins, it is likely to have had feathers and robust hind limbs, designed for running and balance.
The discovery of Ypupiara lopai is significant because it fills a gap in the fossil record of unenlagins in South America, a group that had previously been identified mainly in Patagonia. This discovery reinforces the idea that unenlagins had a much wider distribution in the southern hemisphere during the Cretaceous. Although much of its biology remains speculative due to the scarcity of fossil remains, Ypupiara lopai represents an important step in understanding the diversity and evolution of theropods in Gondwana.
Approximate measurements of the Ypupiara:
- Complete 1:35 scale
- Length 81 mm
- Height 31 mm
- Width 13 mm
- Snout-tail length 86 mm
- Complete 1:20 scale
- Length 136 mm
- Height 52 mm
- Width 21 mm
- Snout-tail length 150 mm
- Complete 1:10 scale
- Length 273 mm
- Height 104 mm
- Width 42 mm
- Snout-tail length 300 mm
