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Mapusaurus

Say it: mah-POO-sore-us

Name means: “Earth lizard”1

Ate: MeatOther meat-eatersEarly Cretaceous

Mapusaurus was a giant meat-eating dinosaur that lived in what is now Argentina. It was one of the biggest predators ever, maybe even bigger than Giganotosaurus. Some scientists think Mapusaurus may have hunted in packs, working together to take down huge plant-eaters.2 1

Lived

110 to 106 million years ago4

Early Cretaceous

Fossils found in

Neuquén Province, Argentina3 2

Food

Meat3 2

Length

10.2 to 12.6 m1

estimates based on different specimens

Weight

6 tonnes to 8 tonnes1

When did it live?

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

252 million years ago20114566, the asteroid

How big was it?

as long as 3 cars parked in a rowas long as 70 bananas end to endas heavy as 5 carsas heavy as 1.5 elephantsas heavy as 1600 watermelons

How big was Mapusaurus compared to YOU?

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cool stuff

Fun facts

Mapusaurus is known from a bonebed that contained at least seven individuals, ranging from about 5 to 11 metres long. This suggests they may have lived or died together.3

Its name comes from the Mapuche word 'mapu' meaning Earth, and the rose-colored rocks where it was found inspired the species name 'roseae'.3 1

Mapusaurus had very small arms, similar in size to those of T. rex and other big theropods.1

It lived during the Early Cretaceous, about 106 million years ago, in the Huincul Formation of Argentina.4 1

Mapusaurus was a carcharodontosaurid, meaning it was related to Carcharodontosaurus and Giganotosaurus. Its skull was deep and short with a rough, bumpy surface.3

Some scientists think Mapusaurus might have been the largest meat-eating dinosaur ever, even bigger than Giganotosaurus.2

AI-made picture of Mapusaurus — An AI-made picture of how Mapusaurus might have looked, made by a computer from what scientists know. It is a guess: the real animal may have looked different, and nobody knows its true colours.

you asked

Most asked questions about Mapusaurus

?How big was Mapusaurus?

Mapusaurus was one of the largest meat eating dinosaurs. The biggest specimens reached about 10.2 to 12.6 metres (33 to 41 feet) long and weighed 6 to 8 tonnes (13,000 to 18,000 pounds).1 2

?Was Mapusaurus bigger than T. rex?

Mapusaurus was similar in size to Tyrannosaurus rex, but some estimates suggest it was slightly longer. However, T. rex was probably heavier and more robust.1

?Did Mapusaurus hunt in packs?

Some scientists think Mapusaurus may have hunted in groups, based on a bonebed with at least seven individuals. But it is not known if they hunted together in an organized pack or just attacked in a mob.1 2

?What did Mapusaurus eat?

Mapusaurus was a carnivore that likely ate large plant-eating dinosaurs. It lived alongside the giant titanosaur Argentinosaurus and may have hunted it in groups.1 2

?When did Mapusaurus live?

Mapusaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous, about 99 to 94 million years ago, in what is now Argentina.1 2

?Where was Mapusaurus found?

Mapusaurus fossils were found in the Huincul Formation of Neuquén Province, Argentina, at a site called Cañadón del Gato.1 2

?Why is it called Mapusaurus?

Its name comes from the Mapuche word 'mapu' meaning Earth, and the Greek word for lizard, so it means 'Earth lizard'. The species name 'roseae' honors the rose-colored rocks where it was found and a sponsor named Rose Letwin.1 2

?Did Mapusaurus have feathers?

No one knows for sure. Mapusaurus was a large theropod, and while some smaller relatives had feathers, no direct evidence of feathers has been found for Mapusaurus.1

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Myth buster

Myth: Some people think Mapusaurus was a type of Giganotosaurus.

Truth: Mapusaurus is a separate genus, though closely related. It has unique features like fused metacarpals and a different skull shape.3

For dino experts

Scientific name: Mapusaurus
Named by: Coria and Currie 20064
Group: Other meat-eaters
Family / clade: Carcharodontosauridae4
Classification: Theropoda > Allosauroidea > Carcharodontosauridae4
Age of the rocks: 110 to 106 million years (Albian)4
Rock formations: Huincul4
Countries: Argentina4
Fossil records: 1 in the Paleobiology Database4
Discovery: Mapusaurus was discovered in 1997 during the Argentinean-Canadian Dinosaur Project at Cañadón del Gato in Argentina. It was named by Rodolfo Coria and Philip Currie in 2006.3 2
Still debated: Scientists are still debating whether Mapusaurus truly hunted in packs or if the bonebed was just a chance accumulation of carcasses.3

Where the facts come from

Mapusaurus (en.wikipedia.org)
Mapusaurus | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)
A new carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina (app.ingemmet.gob.pe)
Mapusaurus in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.

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