About Afrovenator
| Scientific Name (Genus) | Afrovenator |
| Meaning of Name | African hunter Afro (African) [Latin] - vēnātor (hunter) [Latin] |
| Classification | Saurischia, Theropoda, Tetanurae, Megalosauridae |
| Total Length | Approx. 8m |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Period | Middle Jurassic (approx. 167-161 million years ago) |
| Species Name | Afrovenator abakensis |
| Year of Paper Publication | 1994 |
| Genus Name Publication | Sereno, P.C., Wilson, J.A., Larsson, H.C.E., Dutheil, D.B., & Sues, H-D. 1994. "Early Cretaceous dinosaurs from the Sahara". Science 266: 267-271. |
Features
Afrovenator is a megalosaurid theropod discovered in Niger, Africa. In 1993, an expedition led by American paleontologist Paul Sereno found a nearly complete skeleton. This discovery was significant as it demonstrated the diversity of dinosaurs on the African continent at the time.
The fossil was found in the Tiourarén Formation in Niger. Initially, this formation was thought to be from the Early Cretaceous (about 132-125 million years ago), but a later re-examination of the sediments revealed it to be from the Middle Jurassic (about 167-161 million years ago). Consequently, Afrovenator's time period was revised to the Middle Jurassic.
The skeleton resembles that of the Late Jurassic Allosaurus but is generally more slender and retains more primitive features. The skull is low and long, with a narrow snout. The teeth were thin like knives, suitable for slicing through flesh. Its forelimbs, with three sharp claws, are thought to have been powerful weapons for capturing and tearing apart prey.
Its hind legs, with a tibia shorter than the femur, suggest it was not a long-distance runner. Therefore, it may have hunted by ambush or surprise attacks rather than by persistently chasing its prey.
Paleoenvironment and Classification
During the Middle Jurassic, North Africa, where Afrovenator lived, is thought to have been a vast floodplain with extensive river systems. Fossils of the sauropod Jobaria and a spinosaurid-like theropod have also been found in the same Tiourarén Formation, suggesting that Afrovenator may have preyed on these herbivorous dinosaurs and other creatures.
In terms of classification, it belongs to the Megalosauridae family and is considered closely related to Dubreuillosaurus and Eustreptospondylus, both found in Europe. Some theories propose that these dinosaurs form a group called "Afrovenatorinae".
Afrovenator Stamp & Fossil Gallery
