Spectrovenator

Zaher et al., 2020 SPEC-tro-VEN-uh-tuh

From Latin spectrum, "ghost" or "apparition", combined with Latin venator, "hunter" — means "ghost hunter"

121.4–113.2 million years ago Aptian, Early Cretaceous

Early Cretaceous stages

Spectrovenator is a genus of basal abelisaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous period in what is now Brazil. The type and only known species is S. ragei, representing a small abelisaurid about 1.42-2.2 meters (4.7-7.2 ft) long.

Diagnosis

Posterior ramus of maxilla ornamented with vertically oriented grooves except for smooth region anterior to maxilla-jugal suture
Lacrimal lateral surface rugose except for smooth ventral region
Ventrally bowed posterior process of jugal
Nuchal crest with thin and smooth dorsal margin
Straight ventral margin of dentaries with deep sulcus on lateral surface
Dorsal margin of surangular slightly convex
Longitudinal ridge along posteroventral end of mandibular ramus

Species

Spectrovenator ragei Zaher et al., 2020

Type species

Named for Jean-Claude Rage, a French paleontologist recognized for contributions to the study of continental Mesozoic vertebrate paleobiogeography.

Holotype: MZSP-PV 833 , Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo
Material: Nearly complete skull, partial cervicodorsal vertebrae with ribs, complete sacrum, partial caudal vertebrae, hindlimb and hip bones
Horizon: Quiricó Formation, Aptian, Early Cretaceous , 121.4–113.2 million years ago
Locality: Embira Branca Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil

References

Zaher, H.; Pol, D.; Navarro, B. A.; Delcourt, R.; Carvalho, A. B. (2020). An Early Cretaceous theropod dinosaur from Brazil sheds light on the cranial evolution of the Abelisauridae. Comptes Rendus Palevol (6). Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle. doi:10.5852/cr-palevol2020v19a6 zaher2020a
Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.
Source of the mass and hip height estimates.
jones2026c