Pronunciation: AH-kee-o-CUR-suh
Meaning: Old runner
Author/s: Yao et al. (2024)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Chongqing, China
Discovery Chart Position: #1151
Archaeocursor asiaticus
(Old Runner from Asia)Etymology
Archaeocursor is derived from the Latin "archaeo" (old, ancient) and "cursor" (runner). The species epithet, asiaticus, means "Asian" in Latin.
Discovery
The remains of Archaeocursor were discovered in the Dongyuemiao Member of the Ziliujing Formation, near Congyansi subway station, 2 km north of Chongqing Central Park, Yubei District, Chongqing Municipality, China, by Qingdong Wang and Qiang Hu in 2022, during a salvage operation at a residential construction site by the Southeast Sichuan Geological Team. Given the presence of fossilized rays, lungfish, sharks, plesiosaurs, bivalves, crustaceans and gastropods, the area is interpreted as being the site of a deep lake that Archaeocursor was likely washed into from the spot where it died.
The holotype (L01-HY999) is a nearly complete thigh bone.
Preparators
Qingdong Wang and Qiang Hu.
