GIANT CARNIVOROUS DINOSAUR FOSSILS UNEARTHED IN NORTHWESTERN RÍO NEGRO

Scientists from Argentina have revealed the discovery of a carnivorous dinosaur that rivaled Tyrannosaurus rex.
GIANT CARNIVOROUS DINOSAUR FOSSILS UNEARTHED IN NORTHWESTERN RÍO NEGRO
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A new carcharodontosaurid specimen sheds light on the anatomy of South American giant predatory dinosaurs - The Science of Nature

Carcharodontosaurids were gigantic terrestrial dinosaurs and top predators of dinosaur faunas in Gondwanan landmasses during the “Mid”-Cretaceous Period. Despite their wide geographical and stratigraphical distribution, essential parts of their anatomy are still poorly known. The present contribution aims to describe a new partial skeleton of the carcharodontosaurid Taurovenator violantei, which was previously known only by an isolated postorbital bone coming from Cenomanian–Turonian beds of northern Patagonia, Argentina. The neck of Taurovenator is composed of notably high anterior cervicals, bearing neural spines with expanded, flange-like dorsal tips which are successively imbricated. This condition has been reported previously in the carcharodontosaurid Acrocanthosaurus, but its occurrence in Taurovenator and other members of the clade suggests it may represent a synapomorphy of this theropod family. This unique neck morphology was probably related to strong modifications in musculature and restriction in the range of movements within the neck, but not with the head. The new specimen also affords valuable anatomical information on the forelimb of Patagonian carcharodontosaurids. As in other giganotosaurines, Taurovenator shows strongly reduced forelimbs, particularly the forearm, showing hand elements with elongated non-ungual phalanges, and well-marked articular surfaces and muscular insertions, suggesting highly movable digits. This new specimen of Taurovenator allows us to expand anatomical and morpho-functional discussions about the carcharodontosaurid clade.

This newly uncovered skeleton, measuring approximately 11 meters long, lived around 90 million years ago in what is now Patagonia. The dinosaur, a member of the carcharodontosaur family, offers fresh insights into the anatomy and lifestyle of these prehistoric predators.

Named Taurovenator violantei, the fossil remains were found in the Pueblo Blanco Natural Reserve, located about 25 kilometers south of El Chocón in Río Negro Province, Argentina, a region renowned for its rich fossil beds. In addition to the discovery of fossils from turtles and fish, several dinosaur species have been unearthed in the area, including the fearsome abelisaurid Tralkasaurus cuyi, the small-winged paravian Overoraptor chimentoi, the unusual theropod Gualicho shinyae, the swift ornithopod Chakisaurus nekul, and the enormous sauropod Chucarosaurus diripienda.

 The first remains of Taurovenator—a single skull bone—were discovered in 2013. Subsequent expeditions in 2018 and 2019 uncovered additional parts of the skeleton, including the back of the skull, several vertebrae, nearly complete arms, leg bones, and parts of the ribcage. These new findings have allowed researchers to understand better the anatomy and behavior of these massive carnivores.

The name Taurovenator means "bull hunter," combining the Greek word for bull (Tauro*) with the Latin word for hunter (-venator), a nod to its fearsome appearance, which included horns above its eyes. The species name violantei honors the Violante family.

The discovery, made in 2018, was the result of efforts by a team of paleontologists from the Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy and Vertebrate Evolution (LACEV) and the Félix de Azara Natural History Foundation, both part of CONICET, in collaboration with researchers from Japan’s National Museum of Nature & Science. The expedition was funded by the National Geographic Society and supported by the Secretary of Culture of Río Negro.

Based on the newly discovered remains, "we estimate that Taurovenator reached about 11 meters in length and weighed close to 5 tons," says Dr. Mauro Aranciaga Rolando, a CONICET PhD student and the lead researcher on the project. "This places it among the ranks of giant Argentine carnivores like Giganotosaurus and Tyrannotitan"

The research also shed light on lesser-known features of closely-related species, such as Giganotosaurus and Meraxes. For instance, Taurovenator had relatively short arms compared to its massive body. "This matches findings in other family members like Meraxes, suggesting that arm reduction was an evolutionary trend within this group of carnivores, offering clues to the mechanisms behind this reduction," explains Dr. Matías Motta, a CONICET researcher.

In addition, Taurovenator provides new details about the structure of carcharodontosaur necks, showing unique features in the vertebrae for the first time. "In most dinosaurs, the neck vertebrae connect through areas called zygapophyses. However, Taurovenator has additional connecting points between its vertebrae, making its neck much stiffer. We’ve observed similar traits in other carcharodontosaurs, and we propose that this might be a defining feature of this group," says Aranciaga Rolando.

The study, published in the journal The Science of Nature, offers new hypotheses about the functional significance of this unusually rigid neck. “Taurovenator, like other carcharodontosaurs, had a massive skull measuring 1.3 meters in length. This reinforcement in the neck may have helped support its weight during movement or hunting”, suggests Dr. Federico Agnolín, a member of LACEV and the Azara Foundation. "These changes in the neck likely correlate with adaptations in the muscles that allowed it to support such a large skull," Agnolín adds.

Taurovenator is now recognized as the largest predator known from the Pueblo Blanco Natural Reserve, adding to the rich fossil history of Río Negro Province. Discoveries like this offer a valuable glimpse into the ancient past of Argentina.

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