Cenomanian South America
theropods
Updated 082816
There was a diverse range of smaller coelurosaurine theropods (Velocisaurus, Unenlagia ) and birds (alvarezsaurids, enantiornithines, Patagopteryx). The large problematic theropod Megaraptor is also present.
The mega predator Giganotosaurus (Giant Southern Reptile) one of the largest predators is ( 6 - 8 ) tons and 43 feet long. Longer but lighter than Tyrannosaurus with a smaller brain Giganotosaurus starts in the mid Cretaceous but disappears before the end of the Cretaceous. One of the largest theropods, It had a low skull, reduced shoulder girdle and robust vertebrae and hind limbs. It occurred some 30 million years earlier than Tyrannosaurus.
Giganotosaurus(Giant southern lizard) is most recently classed in the same family as Allosaurus being most closely related to Acrocanthosaurus and Carchardontosaurus. | It must have preyed on the large titanosaurs that dominated Gondwanaland. The giganotosaurs disappear about the same time the extra large sauropods are gone. |
Mapusaurus remains were found in a bonebed containing at least 7
individuals of varying size and development. A family group of
different sizes in the Patagonian plains of Argentina. Two of the
specimens are very large, the others are smaller. This could be a
family group. The largest bones are comparable in size with it close
relative Giganotosaurus.
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