Bahariasaurus

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Bahariasaurus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 95  Ma
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Bahariasaurus vertebra.png
Vertebra of Bahariasaurus from specimen 1912 VIII 62
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Family: Bahariasauridae
Genus: Bahariasaurus
Stromer, 1934
Species:
B. ingens
Binomial name
Bahariasaurus ingens
Stromer, 1934
Synonyms

Bahariasaurus is a dubious, enigmatic genus of large theropod dinosaur. The genus is known to have included at least 1 species, Bahariasaurus ingens (meaning "huge Bahariya lizard"), which was found in North African rock layers dating to the Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous. The only fossils confidently assigned to Bahariasaurus were found in the Bahariya Formation of the Bahariya (Arabic: الواحة البحرية meaning the "northern oasis") oasis in Egypt by Ernst Stromer but were destroyed during a World War II bombing raid with the same raid taking out the holotype of Spinosaurus and Aegyptosaurus among other animals found in the Bahariya Formation. While there have been more fossils assigned to the genus such as some from the Farak Formation of Niger, these remains are referred to with much less certainty. [1] Bahariasaurus is, by most estimations, one of the largest theropods, approaching the height and length of other large bodied theropods such as Tyrannosaurus rex and the contemporaneous Carcharodontosaurus . The aforementioned estimations tend to put it at around 11–12.2 metres (36–40 ft) in length and 4-4.8 tonnes in overall weight. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

Bahariasaurus was found during the 1910s during an expedition to Egypt's Baharija Formation led by Markgraf and Stromer, and the holotype, specimen 1912 VIII 62, was discovered in 1911. [5] The type species, B. ingens, was described by Ernst Stromer in 1934. [6] It was considered to be potentially the largest known theropod. The holotype of Bahariasaurus, along with other fossils such as the holotype of Spinosaurus , was destroyed in an air raid during World War II on the night of 24/25 April 1944. [7] [8]

The questionable remains of Bahariasaurus from the Farak Formation of Niger, which consist of a proximal caudal centrum (65 mm), two mid caudal centra and three mid caudal centra (from different individuals) were discovered some time later during the 20th century and described by de Lapparent in 1960. [1] [9] It is possible that these remains may have belonged to another unrelated theropod.

Description

Bahariasaurus was a notably large theropod. The type species, B. ingens, is only known from post-cranial material. The two centra of the posterior dorsal vertebrae are ~157% and 189% longer than they are tall, and ~82% and ~95% wider than they are tall. [1] All preserved sacrals have a longitudinally elongate pleurocoel and a ventral median groove, which is unknown in any ceratosaurs. The last sacral vertebrae known from Bahariasaurus implies that there was no greater fusion of the vertebrae after that. [6] The 22.5 cm long vertebra of Bahariasaurus 1912 VIII 62 is the longest dorsal vertebra among all theropods, 12.5% longer than that of Sue. [4]

Classification

The exact taxonomic placement of Bahariasaurus is uncertain, although it has been variously assigned to several theropod groups, including the Carcharodontosauridae [10] and the superfamily Tyrannosauroidea. [11] The smaller contemporaneous theropod Deltadromeus could potentially be synonymous with Bahariasaurus. If this assumption is correct, Bahariasaurus would possibly represent the largest ceratosaur as recent studies consider Deltadromeus a ceratosaur, specifically a noasaurid. [2] More specimens would be needed to more accurately classify it and determine its relationship to Deltadromeus.

However, the taxon has posterior dorsal and sacral pleurocoels, a proximally placed interpubic fenestra and ventrally-grooved sacrals, which makes the taxon unlikely to be a ceratosaur. [12]

If added to the phylogenetic analysis of Carrano (2012), it is recovered as an indeterminate tetanuran.

Speculative life restoration of Bahariasaurus as a megaraptoran Bahariasaurus ingens, like megaraptora.jpg
Speculative life restoration of Bahariasaurus as a megaraptoran

In the 2016 description and analysis of the megaraptoran Aoniraptor , Bahariasaurus was found, along with Gualicho , Aoniraptor and Deltadromeus to form a family in the still poorly understood clade known as the Megaraptora and are different from the more derived megaraptorids. [13] In 2020, Ibrahim and colleagues considered it unlikely that Deltadromeus represents a specimen of Bahariasaurus, and regarded Bahariasaurus as a nomen dubium . [14]

In 2024, Cau included the Bahariasaurus type specimen in a phylogenetic analysis and recovered it in a monophyletic clade near the base of Ceratosauria along with Aoniraptor , Deltadromeus , and Gualicho , with Elaphrosaurus as the sister taxon to this clade. [15]

Paleobiology

Restoration of Bahariasaurus as a noasaurid (far right background) with contemporaneous animals of the Bahariya Formation Bahariya Formation McAfee.jpg
Restoration of Bahariasaurus as a noasaurid (far right background) with contemporaneous animals of the Bahariya Formation

Bahariasaurus was one of four giant theropods known from the Bahariya Formation, the other three being the allosauroid Tameryraptor (originally assigned to Carcharodontosaurus ) and the spinosaurids Spinosaurus and Sigilmassasaurus , though the validity of Sigilmassasaurus is currently being debated as it may be a junior synonym of Spinosaurus. It is likely the predators in the Bahariya Formation exhibited niche-partitioning in order to avoid competition so that they could coexist in the same environment. [16]

Related Research Articles

<i>Spinosaurus</i> Genus of spinosaurid dinosaur

Spinosaurus is a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in what now is North Africa during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 100 to 94 million years ago. The genus was known first from Egyptian remains discovered in 1912 and described by German palaeontologist Ernst Stromer in 1915. The original remains were destroyed in World War II, but additional material came to light in the early 21st century. It is unclear whether one or two species are represented in the fossils reported in the scientific literature. The type species S. aegyptiacus is mainly known from Egypt and Morocco. Although a potential second dubious species, S. maroccanus, has been recovered from Morocco, this dubious species is likely a junior synonym of S. aegyptiacus. Other possible junior synonyms include Sigilmassasaurus from the Kem Kem beds in Morocco and Oxalaia from the Alcântara Formation in Brazil, though other researchers propose both genera to be distinct taxa.

<i>Giganotosaurus</i> Carcharodontosaurid dinosaur genus from the late Cretaceous period

Giganotosaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Argentina, during the early Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 99.6 to 95 million years ago. The holotype specimen was discovered in the Candeleros Formation of Patagonia in 1993 and is almost 70% complete. The animal was named Giganotosaurus carolinii in 1995; the genus name translates to "giant southern lizard", and the specific name honors the discoverer, Ruben Carolini. A dentary bone, a tooth, and some tracks, discovered before the holotype, were later assigned to this animal. The genus attracted much interest and became part of a scientific debate about the maximum sizes of theropod dinosaurs.

<i>Carcharodontosaurus</i> Genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur from the Cretaceous period

Carcharodontosaurus is a genus of large carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived in Northwest Africa from about 100 to 94 million years ago during the Cenomanian age of the Cretaceous. Two teeth of the genus, now lost, were first described from Algeria by French paleontologists Charles Depéret and Justin Savornin as Megalosaurus saharicus. A partial skeleton initially referred to this genus was collected by crews of German paleontologist Ernst Stromer during a 1914 expedition to Egypt. Stromer did not report the Egyptian find until 1931, in which he dubbed the novel genus Carcharodontosaurus, making the type species C. saharicus. Although this skeleton was destroyed during the Second World War, it was subsequently redescribed as the holotype of a distinct carcharodontosaurid genus, Tameryraptor. In 1995, a nearly complete skull of C. saharicus, the first well-preserved specimen to be found in almost a century, was discovered in the Kem Kem Beds of Morocco, which was officially designated as the neotype in 2007. In the same year, fossils unearthed from the Echkar Formation of northern Niger were described and named as another species, C. iguidensis, though this species might belong to a different genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernst Stromer</span> German paleontologist

Ernst Freiherr Stromer von Reichenbach was a German paleontologist best remembered for his expedition to Egypt, during which the discovery of the first known remains of Spinosaurus was made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinosauridae</span> Family of dinosaurs

Spinosauridae is a clade or family of tetanuran theropod dinosaurs comprising ten to seventeen known genera. Spinosaurid fossils have been recovered worldwide, including Africa, Europe, South America and Asia. Their remains have generally been attributed to the Early to Mid Cretaceous.

<i>Aegyptosaurus</i> Titanosaurid sauropod dinosaur genus from late Cretaceous Period

Aegyptosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Africa, around 95 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous Period.

<i>Deltadromeus</i> Theropod dinosaur genus from mid-Cretaceous Period

Deltadromeus is a genus of theropod dinosaur from the Aoufous Formation of Morocco.

<i>Rebbachisaurus</i> Extinct genus of dinosaurs

Rebbachisaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur of the superfamily Diplodocoidea, that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in Africa and possibly also South America about 99-97 million years ago. Remains attributed to Rebbachisaurus have been found in Morocco, Niger, Algeria, Tunisia and possibly also Argentina, although only the Moroccan remains can be referred to the genus without doubt. The discovery of Rayososaurus, a South American sauropod nearly identical to Rebbachisaurus which may have actually have been the same animal as Rebbachisaurus, supports the theory that there was still a land connection between Africa and South America during the Early Cretaceous, long after it was commonly thought the two continents had separated.

Inosaurus is the name given to a dubious genus of theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous-aged "Continental intercalaire" and Early Cretaceous (Albian)-aged Echkar Formation of Niger and possibly from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)-aged Baharija Formation of Egypt The type, and only species, is Inosaurus tedreftensis.

<i>Sigilmassasaurus</i> Possible genus of dinosaur

Sigilmassasaurus is a controversial and dubious genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived approximately 100 to 94 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period in what is now northern Africa. Named in 1996 by Canadian paleontologist Dale Russell, it contains a single species, Sigilmassasaurus brevicollis. The identity of the genus has been debated by scientists, with some considering its fossils to represent material from the closely related species Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, while others have classified it as a separate taxon, forming the clade Spinosaurini with Spinosaurus as its sister taxon.

Kemkemia is a genus of probable crocodyliforms living in the Cretaceous, described from a single fossil that was recovered in 1999 from Morocco by an Italian team searching for fossil invertebrates. The fossil of Kemkemia dates from the Cenomanian age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megaraptora</span> Extinct clade of dinosaurs

Megaraptora is a clade of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs with controversial relationships to other tetanuran theropods. Its derived members, the Megaraptoridae are noted for their large hand claws and powerfully-built forelimbs, which are usually reduced in size in other large theropods.

<i>Zuolong</i> Extinct genus of dinosaurs

Zuolong is an extinct genus of tetanuran theropod from the Late Jurassic period of China. The type and only species is Z. salleei. The generic name of Zuolong is in honor of General Zuo Zōngtáng with the Chinese word "long" which means dragon. The specific epithet "salleei" is in honor of Hilmar Sallee, who funded the expedition which led to the specimen's discovery.

<i>Paralititan</i> Genus of a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur

Paralititan was a giant titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur genus discovered in coastal deposits in the Upper Cretaceous Bahariya Formation of Egypt. It lived between 99.6 and 93.5 million years ago.

<i>Ichthyovenator</i> Genus of dinosaur

Ichthyovenator is a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in what is now Laos, sometime between 120 and 113 million years ago, during the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous period. It is known from fossils collected from the Grès supérieurs Formation of the Savannakhet Basin, the first of which were found in 2010, consisting of a partial skeleton without the skull or limbs. This specimen became the holotype of the new genus and species Ichthyovenator laosensis, and was described by palaeontologist Ronan Allain and colleagues in 2012. The generic name, meaning "fish hunter", refers to its assumed piscivorous lifestyle, while the specific name alludes to the country of Laos. In 2014, it was announced that more remains from the dig site had been recovered; these fossils included teeth, more vertebrae (backbones) and a pubic bone from the same individual.

<i>Camarillasaurus</i> Extinct genus of dinosaurs

Camarillasaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period (Barremian) of Camarillas, Teruel Province, in what is now northeastern Spain. Described in 2014, it was originally identified as a ceratosaurian theropod, but later studies suggested affinities to the Spinosauridae. If it does represent a spinosaur, Camarillasaurus would be one of several spinosaurid taxa known from the Iberian peninsula, the others being Iberospinus, Protathlitis, Baryonyx, Riojavenatrix, and Vallibonavenatrix.

<i>Siats</i> Extinct genus of theropod dinosaurs

Siats (/see-ats/) is an extinct genus of large theropod dinosaurs known from the Late Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah, United States. The genus contains a single species, Siats meekerorum. It was initially classified as a megaraptoran, a clade of large theropods with controversial relationships. Alternative positions within the Neovenatoridae, Allosauroidea, and Tyrannosauroidea have also been proposed.

<i>Aoniraptor</i> Extinct genus of dinosaurs

Aoniraptor is a genus of possibly megaraptoran or bahariasaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina.

Gualicho is a genus of theropod dinosaur. The type species is Gualicho shinyae. It lived in what is now northern Patagonia, on what was then a South American island continent split off from the supercontinent Gondwana. The fossils were found in the Huincul Formation, dating to the late Cenomanian-early Turonian age of the upper Cretaceous Period, around 91 million years ago.

<i>Tameryraptor</i> Genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaurs

Tameryraptor is an extinct genus of large carcharodontosaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Bahariya Formation of Egypt. The genus contains a single species, T. markgrafi, known from partial skull bones and vertebrae, and leg bones. The holotype specimen was historically assigned to the genus Carcharodontosaurus, and it was destroyed in a bombing during the Second World War in 1944. Tameryraptor is one of the only African carcharodontosaurids to preserve associated cranial and postcranial remains.

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  15. Cau, Andrea (2024). "A Unified Framework for Predatory Dinosaur Macroevolution" (PDF). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana. 63 (1): 1–19. doi:10.4435/BSPI.2024.08 (inactive 20 November 2024). ISSN   0375-7633.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
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