Mapusaurus. Earth Lizard
Mapusaurus was a giant theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous. She was massive: large individuals are estimated at 40+ feet in length. She resembled a Tyrannosaurus rex, though she is placed in the Carcharodontosauridae family. This family was comparable to Tyrannosauridae but owned present-day South America and Africa rather than the North American abode of Tyrannosauridae
Mapusaurus was discovered in the late 90s in the Huncuil formation in Argentina. At least 7 individual specimens were present at the excavation site. This lends itself to the idea that they may have been social enough to collaborate on dinner. Conversely, this could have reflected a natural disaster or even just an ideal hunting ground wherein all 7 individuals rested in peace at different times. Under any scenario, large sauropods such as Argentinosaurus would have been present and delicious. A fully grown Argentinosaurus might weigh 100 tons, so an experienced Mapusaurus would potentially have done any and all of the following:
- Hunted the (still large) young
- Scavenged upon unfortunate adults
- Collaborated with her peers to hasten misfortune
- Squabbled with those same peers over the choicest rewards
You see it now: Four Mapusaurus following an adult Argentinosaurus. The sauropod is slow and unwell and has fallen behind the rest of the herd. One Mapusaurus is a large female. Two are young adult males, the fourth a juvenile female who largely holds back. Pterosaurs fly overhead. Hours pass, and the dance is increasingly intimate.
Such teeth…