Knowra Abelisauridae Abelisauridae Abelisauridae is a family of predatory theropod dinosaurs known mainly from Cretaceous rocks in the Southern Hemisphere. Its members typically had short, deep skulls, reduced forelimbs, and powerful hind limbs.
Theropoda : Theropoda is the dinosaur group that includes birds and their extinct, mostly bipedal relatives. Abelisaurids are a branch of theropods, sharing their basic bipedal body plan.
Abelisaurid skull : An abelisaurid skull is typically short and deep, with robust bones and reduced openings compared with many theropod skulls. Its reinforced construction is central to hypotheses about biting and prey handling.
Abelisaurus : Abelisaurus is a Late Cretaceous theropod from Argentina known from a partial skull and used to name Abelisauridae. The family name derives from this Argentine dinosaur.
Carnotaurus sastrei : Carnotaurus sastrei is a horned abelisaurid species known from a nearly complete skeleton found in Argentina. This unusually complete specimen preserves soft-tissue impressions as well as bones.
Carcharodontosauridae : Carcharodontosauridae is a family of large predatory theropods that lived mainly during the Cretaceous. These predators overlapped abelisaurids in some southern ecosystems but belonged to a different lineage.
Ceratosauria : Ceratosauria is a group of theropod dinosaurs that includes ceratosaurs, abelisaurids, and their relatives. Abelisauridae belongs within this broader theropod lineage.
Abelisaurid forelimb : The forelimb of an abelisaurid was extremely short, with reduced bones and limited mobility. Its reduction contrasts sharply with the powerful hind limbs used for locomotion.
Gondwana : Gondwana was the southern supercontinent comprising Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia, and parts of Asia. Abelisaurid fossils occur on several landmasses that were once part of Gondwana.
Majungasaurus crenatissimus : Majungasaurus crenatissimus is an abelisaurid species from Late Cretaceous Madagascar. Its abundant fossils make it one of the best-known island representatives of the family.
Spinosauridae : Spinosauridae is a family of theropod dinosaurs with elongated snouts and adaptations associated with aquatic prey. Their specialized skulls and feeding ecology differ from the robust-jawed abelisaurid pattern.
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