Open Paleo

Afrovenator

Sereno et al., 1994 AF-ro-vee-NAY-tor /ˌæfroʊvɪˈneɪtər/

From Latin 'Afro' referring to Africa and 'venator' meaning 'hunter', meaning 'African hunter'.

168.2–154.8 million years ago Bathonian–Oxfordian, Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic
Middle Jurassic and Late Jurassic stages

Afrovenator is an extinct genus of megalosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Middle or Late Jurassic Tiourarén Formation and maybe the Irhazer II Formation of the Sahara region of Niger in western Africa. Afrovenator represents the only named definitive Gondwanan megalosaur, with proposed material of the group present in the Tacuarembó Formation of Uruguay and the Tendaguru Formation of Tanzania, both dated to the Late Jurassic.

Diagnosis

  1. Maxilla with lobe-shaped anterior margin of antorbital fossa
  2. Third cervical vertebra with a low, rectangular neural spine
  3. Very flat semilunate carpal
  4. Metacarpal I with a broad flange for articulation against metacarpal II

Species

Afrovenator abakensis Sereno et al., 1994

Type species

Named for Abaka, the Tuareg name for the region of Niger where the fossil was found.

Holotype
MNBH TIG1 , Musée National Boubou Hama
Formerly
UC OBA 1 (rehoused from University of Chicago)
Material
Relatively complete skeleton including skull, vertebrae, forelimb, pelvic girdle, and hindlimb.
Horizon
Tiourarén Formation, Bathonian–Oxfordian, Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic , 168.2–154.8 million years ago
Locality
In Abaka, Agadez, Niger

References

  1. 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(5183): 267-271. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). doi:10.1126/science.266.5183.267 sereno1994a
  2. Carrano, M. T.; Benson, R. B. J.; Sampson, S. D. (2012). The phylogeny of Tetanurae (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 10(2): 211-300. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/14772019.2011.630927

    Gives the permanent catalog number for the holotype, formerly held under a temporary University of Chicago designation.

    carrano2012a
  3. Paul, G. S. (2024). The Princeton Field Guide to Predatory Dinosaurs. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the appearance features.

    paul2024b