Giganotosaurus: a Late Cretaceous allosaur in the LRT
Thanks to a recent reader comment,
the iconic giant theropod, Giganotosaurus carolinii (Coria and Salgaod 1995, Cenomanian 99mya, est 13m long, Figs 1, 2) just entered the large reptile tree (LRT, 2314 taxa).
Giganotosaurus was considered a member of the Carcharodontosauridae, a clade known from several incomplete specimens, none of which are tested in the LRT.
Figure 1. This diagram of Gigantosaurus was used to score this taxon in the LRT.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/giganotosaurus_carolinii_588diagram.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/giganotosaurus_carolinii_588diagram.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-84727″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/giganotosaurus_carolinii_588diagram.jpg?w=584&h=212″ alt=”Figure 1. This diagram of Gigantosaurus was used to score this taxon in the LRT. ” width=”584″ height=”212″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/giganotosaurus_carolinii_588diagram.jpg?w=584&h=212 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/giganotosaurus_carolinii_588diagram.jpg?w=150&h=54 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/giganotosaurus_carolinii_588diagram.jpg?w=300&h=109 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/giganotosaurus_carolinii_588diagram.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. This diagram of Gigantosaurus was used to score this taxon in the LRT.
Here giant Late Cretaceous Giganotosaurus nests with
Late Jurassic Allosaurus after flipping the postorbital (Fig 2). That makes the orbit larger and rounder, perhaps creating an inverted teardrop shape. Unfortunately most of the skull bones, including those that border the lower orbit, are not yet known. The cranium is relatively smaller in Giganotosaurus compared to Allosaurus.
Figure 2. Madsen’s Allosaurus diagram compares well with what little is known of the Giganotosaurus skull, in all regards except scale. Here the postorbital (amber) is flipped over to more closely match that of Allosaurus. This creates a larger orbit. The traditional skull diagram creates a too small orbit IMHO.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/allosaurus-giganotosaurus-skull588.gif?w=188″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/allosaurus-giganotosaurus-skull588.gif?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-84728″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/allosaurus-giganotosaurus-skull588.gif?w=584&h=930″ alt=”Figure 2. Madsen’s Allosaurus diagram compares well with what little is known of the Giganotosaurus skull, in all regards except scale. Here the postorbital (amber) is flipped over to more closely match that of Allosaurus. This creates a larger orbit. The traditional skull diagram creates a too small orbit IMHO. ” width=”584″ height=”930″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/allosaurus-giganotosaurus-skull588.gif?w=584&h=930 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/allosaurus-giganotosaurus-skull588.gif?w=94&h=150 94w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/allosaurus-giganotosaurus-skull588.gif?w=188&h=300 188w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/allosaurus-giganotosaurus-skull588.gif 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Madsen’s Allosaurus diagram compares well with what little is known of the Giganotosaurus skull, in all regards except scale. Here the postorbital (amber) is flipped over to more closely match that of Allosaurus. This creates a larger orbit. The traditional skull diagram creates a too small orbit IMHO.
The neck is relatively shorter in Giganotosaurus.
The dorsal neural spines are taller. The hands and feet are not yet known. This specimen vies for the title of the largest theropod dinosaur.
References
Coria RA and Salgado L 1995. A new giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature. 377(6546): 224–226.
Gilmore CW 1920. Osteology of the carnivorous Dinosauria in the United States National Museum, with special reference to the genera Antrodemus (Allosaurus) and Ceratosaurus“. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 110: 1–15.
Madsen JH Jr. 1993 [reprint from 1976]. Allosaurus fragilis: A Revised Osteology. Utah Geological Survey Bulletin 109 (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City: Utah Geological Survey.
Marsh OC 1877. Notice of new dinosaurian reptiles from the Jurassic formation. American Journal of Science and Arts 14: 514–516.
Marsh OC 1884. Principal characters of American Jurassic dinosaurs, part VIII: The order Theropoda. American Journal of Science 27 (160): 329–340.
wiki/Allosaurus
wiki/Afrovenator
wiki/Giganotosaurus
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/03/06/giganotosaurus-a-late-cretaceous-allosaur-in-the-lrt/
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