@joshuapaleorojas.bsky.social
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Paleontologist, naturalist, lover of life; science fiction, fantasy, Dragonball, and Godzilla fan. 🤓🦣🦕🦖🐉
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proximodorsal lip. Scale bars: 5 centimeters. Photo credit: Erik Isasmendi, Elena Cuesta, Ignacio Diaz-Martinez, Julio Company, Patxi Saez-Benito, Luis I Viera, Angelica Torices, and Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, 2024. 🤓🦕🦖
keel; lc, lateral condyle; lclp, lateral collateral ligament pit; lg, longitudinal groove; lpvf; lateral proximoventral fossa; mc, medial condyle; mclp, medial collateral ligament pit; mpvf; medial proximoventral fossa; pdl,
AA), medial (E, J, Q, W, AB), and proximal (F, K, O, U, Z) views. A-F, left metatarsal III. G-K, left pedal phalanx I-2. L-Q, left pedal phalanx III-1. R-W, left pedal phalanx III-3. X-AB, left pedal phalanx V-2 (or IV-3). Abbreviations: ef, extensor fossa; ft, flexor tuberosity; k,
The eighth image shows Riojavenatrix lacustris, left pedal elements. Metatarsal III (CPI 1640), I-2 phalanx (CPI 1647), phalanx III-1 (CPI 1645), phalanx III-3 (CPI 1646), and phalanx V-2 (or IV-3) (CPI 1648) in distal (A, L, R), dorsal (B, G, M, S, X), lateral (C, H, N, T, Y), ventral (D, I, P, V,
facet; vg, ventral groove. Scale bars: 5 centimeters. Photo credit: Erik Isasmendi, Elena Cuesta, Ignacio Diaz-Martinez, Julio Company, Patxi Saez-Benito, Luis I Viera, Angelica Torices, and Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, 2024.
posterior (C, J), medial (D, K), proximal (F), and distal (G) views. Abbreviations: af, astragalar facet; ag, anterior groove; apa, ascending process of the astragalus; ff, fibular facet; fo, foramen; lc, lateral condyle; mc, medial condyle; r, ridge; tf, tibial
Ignacio Diaz-Martinez, Julio Company, Patxi Saez-Benito, Luis I Viera, Angelica Torices, and Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, 2024. The seventh image shows Riojavenatrix lacustris, A-G, left astragalus and distal tibia (CPI 1638), and H-K, left calcaneum (CPI 1676) in anterior (A, H), lateral (B, I),
notch; ift, iliofibularis tubercle; it, incisura tibialis; lc, lateral condyle; lm, lateral malleolus; mf, medial fossa; mm, medial malleolus; sab, supraastragalar buttress. Scale bars: 10 centimeters in A-O; 5 centimeters in P-T. Photo credit: Erik Isasmendi, Elena Cuesta,
distal (T) views. A–D, I, proximal end of the right tibia. E-H, J, left tibia and astragalus. K-O, shaft, and proximal end of the left fibula. P-T, distal end of the left fibula. Abbreviations: asf, astragalar facet; ast, astragalus; cn, cnemial crest; fc, fibular crest; icn, intercondylar
Pereda-Suberbiola, 2024. The sixth image shows Riojavenatrix lacustris, right tibia (CPI 1642), left tibia and astragalus (CPI 1638), and left fibula (CPI 1639A-B) in anterior (A, E, K, P), lateral (B, F, L, Q), posterior (C, G, M, R), medial (D, H, N, S), proximal (I, J, O), and
condyle; mc, medial condyle; me, medial epicondyle; pag, proximal articular groove. Scale bars: 10 centimeters. Photo credit: Erik Isasmendi, Elena Cuesta, Ignacio Diaz-Martinez, Julio Company, Patxi Saez-Benito, Luis I Viera, Angelica Torices, and Xabier
and proximal (J) views. A-D, J, proximal right femur. E-I, shaft, and distal epiphysis of the left femur. Abbreviations: ctf, crista tibiofibularis; exg, extensor groove; fh, femoral head; ft, fourth trochanter; fxg, flexor groove; gt, greater trochanter; lc, lateral
Patxi Saez-Benito, Luis I Viera, Angelica Torices, and Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, 2024. The fifth image shows Riojavenatrix lacustris, left (CPI 1637) and right (CPI 1643) femora in anterior (A, E), lateral (B, F), posterior (C, G), medial (D, H), distal (I),
surface; ilp, iliac peduncle; isb, ischial boot; isp, ischial peduncle; on, obturator notch; pa, pubic apron; pb, pubic boot; pbg, posterior bulge. Scale bars: 5 centimeters. Photo credit: Erik Isasmendi, Elena Cuesta, Ignacio Diaz-Martinez, Julio Company,
(C, I, M, R), posterior (D, J, N, S), proximal (E, Q), and distal (H, T) views. A-E, proximal left pubis. F-J, left pubic shaft and distal boot. K-N, proximal right ischium. O-T, right ischial shaft and distal boot. Abbreviations: ap, anterior process of the ischial boot; as, acetabular
Luis I Viera, Angelica Torices, and Xabier Pereda-Suberbiola, 2024. The fourth image shows Riojavenatrix lacustris, left pubis (CPI 1675A-B) and right ischium (CPI 1641A-B) in anterior (A, F, K, O), medial (B, G, L, P), lateral
laminae; sprf; spinoprezygapophyseal fossa; sprl, spinoprezygapophyseal laminae; tp, transverse process. Scale bar: 5 centimeters. Photo credit: Erik Isasmendi, Elena Cuesta, Ignacio Diaz-Martinez, Julio Company, Patxi Saez-Benito,
neural spine; pcdl, posterior centrodiapophyseal lamina; pocdp, postzygocentrodiapophyseal fossa; sdf, spinodiapophyseal fossa; spof, spinopostzygapophyseal fossa; spol, spinopostzygapophyseal
The third image shows Riojavenatrix lacustris, mid - to posterior dorsal vertebra (CPI 1677). A, anterior view. B, left lateral view. C, posterior view. Abbreviations: hy, hyposphene; ils, interspinous ligament scar; nc, neural canal; ns,
second image shows the skeletal reconstruction of Riojavenatrix lacustris holotype (CPI 1637–1648 and CPI 1675–1677). The preserved material is coloured in fuchsia. Courtesy of Scott Hartman, 2024.
these dinosaurs were not solely fish-eaters. Its strong limbs and large claws - especially on its hands - could have been used to hunt and subdue land-based animals when fish was scarce or easier prey presented itself. The
teeth ideal for gripping slippery fish. Fossil discoveries of close relatives like Baryonyx show their non-specialized, versatile diets. The stomach contents of a Baryonyx included both fish scales and the bones of a juvenile Iguanodon, demonstrating that
As a member of the spinosaurid family, Riojavenatrix lacustris was primarily a piscivore (fish-eater), but was also a generalist carnivore that would opportunistically hunt small to medium-sized terrestrial prey. Like its relatives, Riojavenatrix had a long, low snout with conical, crocodile-like
It was a large bipedal theropod, estimated to have grown 7 to 8 meters (23 - 26 feet) long and weighing approximately 1,500 kilograms (3,306 lbs). R. lacustris lived in marshland environments within a lacustrine-palustrine system with coastal influences.
Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Spinosauridae, and Baryonychinae. It is one of the youngest baryonychines known and the fifth spinosaurid found in the Iberian Peninsula. Living during the Cretaceous Period, Early/Lower Cretaceous Epoch, Aptian Age 121.4 - 113 million years ago.