Scientists in southern Argentina have discovered the skull of a large sarcophagus dinosaur, which in the local Mapuche language means “the one who causes fear”.
The horned Llukalkan aliocranianus was about 5 meters long and lived in Latin America 85 million years ago. The researchers found bones next to those of another carnivorous dinosaur, which is unusual according to their statements. The publication of the scientific research took place on Tuesday.
Like the T-REX, the Llukalkan walked on its hind legs and the two front ones were quite small, however, compared to the T-Rex they were medium in size. It also had short horns and little fingers. It weighed between one and five tons, slightly lighter than an adult African elephant. He was probably a terrifying predator, with a large skull and a strong bite, according to the journal Vertebrate Paleontology.
At the same time, the researchers claim that his hearing was better compared to other dinosaurs in his family, which probably made him a better hunter. He lived on Earth during the Cretaceous, the last period before the dinosaurs became extinct. Near his skull, researchers found fossils of another, slightly larger, carnivorous dinosaur called Viavenator exxoni.
Federico Gianechini, a paleontologist at the National University of San Luis in Argentina, told Reuters that it was “extremely rare” to find abelias living nearby during the same period.
“Llukalkan was a little younger than Viavenator, but if they lived together, they would definitely share the same habitat and feed on the same prey, so they compete and – why not – eat each other.” A number of important dinosaur discoveries have been made in Argentina in recent decades.
In 2014, dinosaur fossils weighing as much as fourteen elephants were found.
