
Dinosaur profile
Afrovenator
Afrovenator abakensis
Pronunciation
Af-ro-vee-nay-tor
African-hunter
Large Theropod
7 - 8 Meters
Early Cretaceous
132 - 121 million years ago
Africa
DietCarnivore
About Afrovenator
Afrovenator is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous Period, about 130-125 million years ago. It was a medium to large-sized carnivore, with an estimated length of about 26-33 feet and a weight of about 1-2 tons. Afrovenator had a long, narrow skull with sharp teeth, and strong, muscular legs with large claws. Its body was probably covered in a layer of feathers, which may have been used for insulation, display, or both.
Afrovenator was discovered in Africa in the 1990s, and was named by paleontologists in 1998. It is considered a relatively primitive theropod, and is thought to be closely related to other early theropods such as Coppens spoof and Eustreptospondylus. Afrovenator is known from a number of well-preserved fossil specimens, including several partial skeletons and skulls, which have helped paleontologists learn more about the anatomy and behavior of this dinosaur.
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