Cretaceous Africa
from the Dinosaur Collector
update 122009
The ecology of Cretaceous North Africa is reminiscent of the North American Jurassic. There is relatively low diversity with sauropods the most common plant eaters with a few large ornithiscians. There are 4 large and 2 medium size theropods. The physical differences among the North African theropods may represent partitioning as the different predator species found today in the African savanna. Fins and high neural arches are found in a variety of of different species here. These is variously reconstructed as fins or humps. This could a sign of seasonal extremes that required the storage of fat.The iguanodont Ouranosaurus nigeriensis and the spinosaurid Suchomimus tenerensis are also present . There are also smaller plant eaters and carnivores. It also the home of for a large number of crocodilians including the giant Sarcosuchus. Suchomimus the "crocodile mimic", a relative of the European Baryonyx and African Spinosaurus, was 36-foot long with a skull that resembled a crocodile. It looks like a fish eater. Ouranosaurus "valiant lizard" was about 24 feet long the long back bones similar to that of the American bison. This suggests that Ouranosaurus has a sail or hump on its back. This
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| The UHA Dino Tales Suchomimus from Kaiyodo , the mini Battat Ouranosaurus and Play Vision Ouranosaurus. | Ouranosaurus from Galoob. This set was interesting with a look similar to the Playskool figures with more realistic coloring. |
Ouranosaurus was a high spined relative of Iguanodon. Where Iguanodon could have been the ancestor of the later flat headed duckbills Ouranosaurus is a likely progenitor for the crested lambeosaurs.
Ouranosaurus by Batatt, Ouranosaurus from Schleich, Carnegie Safari Deltadromeus,Wild Safari Suchomimus.
Deltadromeus (delta runner) was a medium weight predator. Deltadromeus is an abelisaur, with unusually long, slender limbs suggesting speed and agility. The adult size may have approached that of Tyrannosaurus but it was much more lightly built. Probably the same animal as Bahariasaurus. Deltadromeus skeletons have been found with those of the shorter but more massive Carcharodontosaurus (jagged-toothed lizard') named for the teeth which looked shark like, and it may have lived along side the larger Spinosaurus. Carcharodontosaurus is known from teeth and bones found throughout North Africa. Estimated at 40 feet and weighing up to 4 tons.
Carcharodontosaurus from Wild Safari and then the Carnegie Safari Deltadromeus.
Jobaria is a primitive macronarian sauropod with a relatively short and flexible neck and broad teeth. Its skull is smaller and lighter than that of Camarasaurus, with
particularly large external nostrils. The forelimbs are primitive in proportions, and shorter than the hindlimb. It is found in association with Afrovenator and other small indefinite theropods, is the dominate vertebrate and the only large herbivore in the area.
Kentz Jobaria
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