Ekrixinatosaurus
Encyclopedia
Ekrixinatosaurus is a genus
of dinosaur
which lived during the Late Cretaceous
. It was a theropod believed to be one of the abelisaur
s. Its fossils have been found in Argentina
. The type species
, Ekrixinatosaurus novasi, was first described in 2004 by Argentinian paleontologist
Jorge Calvo, and Chilean paleontologists David Rubilar-Rogers and Karen Moreno.
Ekrixinatosaurus is perhaps the largest abelisaurid known to date, estimated as 10 to 11 m (32.8 to 36.1 ft) long. It was also particularly robust and had a relatively large head, suggesting that it was a powerful predator or scavenger, able to scare other predators away from their kills.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
which lived during the Late Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
. It was a theropod believed to be one of the abelisaur
Abelisaur
Abelisaurs were a group of ceratosaurian dinosaurs which lived in the Southern hemisphere during the Cretaceous period. Some well-known dinosaurs of this group include Abelisaurus, Carnotaurus, and Majungasaurus. They are known for their small arms...
s. Its fossils have been found in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, Ekrixinatosaurus novasi, was first described in 2004 by Argentinian paleontologist
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
Jorge Calvo, and Chilean paleontologists David Rubilar-Rogers and Karen Moreno.
Ekrixinatosaurus is perhaps the largest abelisaurid known to date, estimated as 10 to 11 m (32.8 to 36.1 ft) long. It was also particularly robust and had a relatively large head, suggesting that it was a powerful predator or scavenger, able to scare other predators away from their kills.