Fossil discoveries in Australia have shed new light on the continent’s ancient wildlife and ecosystems. The remains of a 45-foot-long Carcharodontosaurus, a type of theropod dinosaur, have been found in southeastern Victoria. This is significant because it marks the first time this species has been discovered outside of North Africa.
The discovery also reveals what life was like for Australia’s ancient predators during the Cretaceous Period. The fossils suggest that modern-Victoria’s ecosystem was dominated by powerful theropods, including a new species of mega raptor known as Megaraptoridae. These dinosaurs were about 20 feet long and had sharp teeth, air-filled bones, and massive claws.
The finding has sparked excitement among paleontologists, who say it challenges previous assumptions about body-size hierarchies in Gondwanan predator ecosystems. The discovery also highlights the importance of volunteers in helping to uncover Australia’s Cretaceous past. Three of the fossils were uncovered by a volunteer named Melissa Lowery between 2022 and 2023.
The discovery is part of a larger study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, which reveals what life was like for theropod dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Period in Australia. The research team hopes to continue surveying key fossil sites, including those where large megaraptorid fossils were found.
Source: https://www.popsci.com/science/australia-dinosaurs-mega-raptor