The province of La Rioja once again positions itself as one of the most important territories for world paleontology. A team of Conicet researchers identified a new species of predatory reptile that inhabited the current northwest of Argentina approximately 237 million years ago, long before dinosaurs dominated terrestrial ecosystems.
The discovery took place in the Chañares Formation, within the Talampaya National Park, a region recognized for the extraordinary richness of its fossil records. The remains allowed for the description of a species previously unknown to science.
Named Shakajlura riojanensis, whose name means “blessed lizard of La Rioja”, this animal would have reached about six meters in length and had a skull close to 60 centimeters, characteristics that made it one of the main hunters of its time.
A patient research work
The discovery was the result of years of scientific exploration in the region. Interdisciplinary teams composed of paleontologists, geologists, and technicians have been conducting research in the area since 2011.
During campaigns carried out between 2017 and 2018, they managed to recover fragments of the skull and part of the postcranial skeleton, fundamental elements to determine that it was a completely new species.
Subsequently, comparative studies allowed for the identification of unique anatomical features in the jaw and maxillary bones, differences that confirmed its uniqueness among the predatory reptiles of the Triassic period.
An ecosystem dominated by large hunters
237 million years ago, the region that today occupies La Rioja was part of Pangea, the enormous supercontinent that gathered all the land masses of the planet.
In that context, the large carnivorous dinosaurs had not yet achieved the ecological prominence they would have millions of years later. The main predators belonged to groups distantly related to today’s crocodiles.
The presence of Shakajlura riojanensis allows for a more precise reconstruction of the complex food webs that characterized those ancient environments and understanding how ecosystems evolved before the expansion of the dinosaurs.
What is the importance of this species for science?
This reptile is part of the Paracrocodylomorpha group, an evolutionary branch of large quadrupedal predators that came to dominate extensive regions of the planet during the Triassic.
Its discovery provides valuable information about the biological diversity that existed before the emergence of dominant dinosaurs and helps to understand the evolutionary processes that shaped modern ecosystems.
Additionally, the study of species like Shakajlura riojanensis allows for the analysis of adaptations related to predation, competition between species, and the response of organisms to environmental changes that occurred over millions of years.
Talampaya, a treasure for the conservation of natural heritage
The Chañares Formation continues to offer exceptional evidence about the history of life on Earth. In this sector of La Rioja, fossils of reptiles, primitive mammals, early dinosaurs, plants, and fungi have been identified.
Furthermore, natural erosion continuously exposes new materials that enrich scientific knowledge and strengthen the importance of preserving these unique landscapes.
Each new discovery not only expands the understanding of the remote past of the planet but also provides tools to interpret the evolution of current biodiversity and the dynamics of ecosystems that require protection against contemporary environmental pressures.
