Tyrannotitan
From Greek tyrannos ('tyrant') and titan ('giant'), meaning 'tyrant titan'
Tyrannotitan is a genus of large theropod dinosaur belonging to the carcharodontosaurid family. It is known from a single species, T. chubutensis, which lived during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina. Tyrannotitan is considered to share a close relationship with other prominent South American carcharodontosaurids such as Giganotosaurus and Mapusaurus. Unlike its relatives, it was bulkier and more robust. This taxon is known from two specimens, both of which are highly incomplete.
Diagnosis
- Teeth with bilobate denticles on the mesial carinae
- Dentary symphyseal margin with anteroventral-posterodorsal inclination in lateral view
- Second and third dorsal vertebrae with well-developed accessory laminae connecting the anterior and posterior centrodiapophyseal laminae
- Fibular fossa extending over the proximal end of the crista tibiofibularis onto the femoral shaft
- Proximomedial fossa of the fibula with a posteriorly projected anterior border
Species
Tyrannotitan chubutensis Novas et al., 2005
Type species
Named for Chubut Province, Argentina, where the holotype was discovered.
- Holotype
- MPEF-PV 1156 , Museo Paleontológico "Egidio Feruglio"
- Material
- Partially articulated skeleton comprising both dentaries, two complete teeth, dorsal vertebrae 2-7 with probable 8-11 and 14, a probable first sacral, an anterior caudal, left scapula and coracoid, right humerus, both radii, left ilium fragments, both ischia and pubes, both femora, left fibula, six haemal arches and gastralia.
- Horizon
- Cerro Castaño Member, Cerro Barcino Formation, Albian, Early Cretaceous , 113.2–100.5 million years ago
- Locality
- La Juanita farm, Chubut, Argentina
References
- Novas, F. E.; de Valais, S.; Vickers-Rich, P.; Rich, T. (2005). A large Cretaceous theropod from Patagonia, Argentina, and the evolution of carcharodontosaurids. Naturwissenschaften 92(5): 226-230. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1007/s00114-005-0623-3 novas2005a
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Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.
Source of the hip height estimate, and the appearance features.
jones2026c -
Canale, J. I.; Novas, F. E.; Pol, D. (2014). Osteology and phylogenetic relationships of Tyrannotitan chubutensis Novas, de Valais, Vickers-Rich and Rich, 2005 (Theropoda: Carcharodontosauridae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina. Historical Biology 27(1): 1-32. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/08912963.2013.861830
Gives the type locality and horizon as the La Juanita farm, 28 km northwest of Paso de Indios, in the Cerro Castaño Member; GPS data are held at the MPEF and released on request.
canale2014a