A new dinosaur species has been named in honour of a Canadian paleontologist. Scientists from Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum and Royal Ontario Museum have found the bones of the small feathered dinosaur. It has been named Albertavenator curriei meaning “Currie’s Alberta hunter” after Dr. Philip J. Currie. The name is to reflect Currie’s decades of work in the province. An example of work is the development of the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum near Wembley.
The scientists believe that Albertavenator walked through Red Deer River Valley 71 million years ago. At first, they thought that the bones were of Troodon which roamed the area 76 million years ago. That dinosaur has similar bones. After finding a skull of the new species, they realized that it was shorter with a sturdier skull.
Leader of the project Dr. David Evans explains that they hope to find more of the animal. He says this would help scientists learn more.
The Albertavenator fossils are kept in the collections in the Royal Tyrell Museum. A study on the dinosaur discovery was published on July 17th, 2017 in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences.