Taurovenator
Taurovenator was a huge meat-eating dinosaur that lived in what is now Argentina. It was one of the biggest predators of its time, even bigger than some of its relatives like Mapusaurus!1
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Fun facts
Taurovenator weighed about 5,728 kilograms (12,628 pounds), which is as heavy as a large elephant.1
It lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 106 million years ago.1
Taurovenator had a horn-like bump on its skull above its eye, which may have been used for display or fighting.2
Its fossils were found in the Huincul Formation in Argentina, a place that was once a river system.1
Scientists are not sure if Taurovenator is a separate species or the same as another dinosaur called Mapusaurus.1
Most asked questions about Taurovenator
?How big was Taurovenator?
Taurovenator weighed about 5,728 kilograms (12,628 lb), which is as heavy as a large elephant. It was around 8 to 9 metres long, though its exact length is not known.1
?What did Taurovenator eat?
Taurovenator was a carnivore, meaning it ate meat. It was one of the top predators in its environment, probably hunting large plant-eating dinosaurs.4
?Why did Taurovenator have a horn on its head?
Taurovenator had a horn-like bump above its eye, which may have been used for display to attract mates or for fighting with other dinosaurs. Scientists are not completely sure.1
?Is Taurovenator a dinosaur?
Yes, Taurovenator is a dinosaur. It is a type of theropod dinosaur called a carcharodontosaurid, which are huge meat-eaters.1
?Is Taurovenator the same as Mapusaurus?
Some scientists think Taurovenator might be the same as Mapusaurus, but others disagree. In 2024, a new fossil was found that helped show they are probably different species.1
?When did Taurovenator live?
Taurovenator lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 106 million years ago.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Some people think Taurovenator was exactly the same as Mapusaurus.
Truth: Scientists now think Taurovenator lived in a slightly different time and place than Mapusaurus, so it may be a distinct dinosaur.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Taurovenator
- Named by
- Motta et al. 20164
- Group
- Meat-eating dinos
- 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
- 2 in the Paleobiology Database4
- Discovery
- Taurovenator was named in 2016 by paleontologist Matias Motta and his team. The first fossil found was a single skull bone from a farm in Argentina.1
- Still debated
- Scientists still debate whether Taurovenator is a valid species or if it should be considered the same as Mapusaurus or Meraxes.1
Where the facts come from
- Taurovenator (en.wikipedia.org)
- PBDB Taxon (paleobiodb.org)
- Taurovenator violantei | Dinosaur Database by DinoAnimals.com (dinoanimals.com)
- Taurovenator in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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