Scientists just discovered a dinosaur so massive it is literally named "one who causes fear"

[marmar]

Scientists just discovered a dinosaur so massive it is literally named "one who causes fear"
The newly discovered dinosaur has a number of qualities that lead scientists to believe it was a terrifying beast

By MATTHEW ROZSA
APRIL 5, 2021 1:00PM


(Salon) When a dinosaur is named after the fact that it is terrifying, you know that the discovery is massive — in this case, literally.

The freshly discovered carnivore is an abelisaurid, meaning that it stood on two stocky legs and had a massive head with an ornamented skull. (They looked similar to the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, although T-rexes were not abelisaurids.) In a study published Tuesday for the peer-reviewed publication Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, paleontologists revealed that they had found a well-preserved skull of an abelisaurid so big that it has been dubbed llukalkan aliocranianus. The second part of its name is Latin for "different skull," but the first part is striking: It is from the language of the Mapuche, who live in the region of Argentina (Patagonia) where the skull was found, and translates as "one who causes fear."

It is easy to see why the llukalkan aliocranianus would be considered fearsome. When it thrived in the Southern Hemisphere roughly 80 million years, llukalkan aliocranianus was up to 16 feet long and had very sharp teeth with powerful jaws that could bite down hard on its prey. Based on the structure of its skull, scientists believe that it had an excellent sense of smell and a hearing ability that surpassed even that of other abelisaurids. Its skull had protuberances similar to those you might find today on a Gila monster or certain types of iguanas; its hind legs were strong enough to enable it to dart forward at great speeds; and its feet had large, razor-sharp claws perfect for slicing open its unlucky victims as it crushed them under its weight.

"This is a particularly important discovery because it suggests that the diversity and abundance of abelisaurids were remarkable, not only across Patagonia, but also in more local areas during the dinosaurs' twilight period," Dr. Federico Gianechini, a paleontologist at the National University of San Luis, Argentina who served as lead author on the paper, explained in a statement. ..........(more)

https://www.salon.com/2021/04/05/scientists-just-discovered-a-dinosaur-so-massive-it-is-literally-named-one-who-causes-fear/

[soothsayer]

2. I feel I'd be afraid of any dinosaurs

And their ancestors (looking at you, birds! I’ve seen he movie)

[yellowdogintexas]

3. has anyone told Charlie Pierce?

as you know, dinosaurs lived then to make us happy now.