Paleontologists have identified fossils of three new carnivorous dinosaur species in Australia. These include the oldest known remains of a six to seven-meter Megaraptor, the first Australian Carcharodontosaur, and a small, bird-like Raptor. These finds shed new light on the evolution of Australian carnivorous dinosaurs and their place in the food chain.
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Reconstructing Ancient Ecosystems
Reconstructing ancient ecosystems often involves determining “who ate whom.” Complete food chains preserved in single fossils are rare, so researchers piece together clues to identify apex predators, their competitors, and preferred prey.
Theropod Composition from Victoria
Fossil discoveries of carnivorous dinosaurs from Victoria, Australia, have helped paleontologists reconstruct the theropod composition from the Early Cretaceous period, 121 to 108 million years ago. Some fossils have been in museum collections for decades, while others were recently unearthed from the Bass and Otway Coasts near Melbourne.
Megaraptoridae
The analysis revealed that fossils belong to three different groups of carnivorous dinosaurs. Two caudal vertebrae and a tibia came from members of the Megaraptoridae. These six to seven-meter-long carnivores were the region’s top predators during the Cretaceous. Typical of this theropod family are elongated, scythe-like sharp hand claws and a relatively slender body.
Carcharodontosaur and Bird-like Raptor
Other fossil finds are attributed to a Carcharodontosaur, a type of carnivorous dinosaur previously unknown in Australia. In addition, the paleontologists discovered bone remains of a small, previously unknown Raptor, which was probably similar in size to a chicken or turkey.
The discovery significantly expands our understanding of dinosaur diversity in Australia during the Cretaceous period. The unearthing highlights that Australia was home to a wider array of predators than previously imagined. Further research on these fossils is expected to provide insights into the interactions and evolutionary relationships among these ancient carnivores.
How do you think these new discoveries will influence our understanding of dinosaur evolution and the ancient ecosystems of Australia, and what further research would you like to see conducted on these fossils?
Based on content from www.scinexx.de and own research.