German and Kyrgyz palaeontologists have discovered the remains of a previously unknown species of predatory dinosaur in the vicinity of the town of Tash-Kumyr.
Named Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus after the mythological bird Alpkarakush from the great Kyrgyz epic ‘Manas’, it is the first theropod to be found on Kyrgyz territory.
The dinosaur’s remains, found in the Balaban-Sai Formation, date to the Middle Jurassic period, about 165 million years ago.
Remarkably intact, the skeleton including the skull and vertebrae, has enabled the team to gauge its appearance.
Although similar to members of the Metriacanthosauridae family and close to large predators of East Asia, the unusual “eyebrow” on the skull — which according to scientists indicates the presence of a horn — makes the Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus unique among other theropods.
As such, the discovery marks a significant step in our understanding of both the biogeography of theropods and the evolution of Central Asia.
In due course, the reconstruction of the dinosaur’s skeleton will take pride of place in the National History Museum in Bishkek.
