Majungasaurus

Name meaning: Mahajanga lizard

Time Period: Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous)

Locations: Madagascar-Maevarano Formation

Taxonomy: Theropoda-Abelisauridae-Carnotaurinae

Subspecies: M.crenatissimus

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Majungasaurus was the apex predator of ancient Madagascar. Majungasaurus was an abelisaurid, a group of theropods that had short legs meant for ambush hunting and short, round snouts meant for biting with high force. It reached lengths of 23 feet and weights of 2,200 pounds. It had very small arms with immovable elbow joints and no wrists for it’s four digit hands. On it’s head was a small horn that was only a display feature it was to weak for any other function and it looks rather silly a contrast to the viscous carnivore Majungasaurus was. Being one of two known cannibalistic dinosaurs, the other was Allosaurus. It’s unlikely to be a frequent behavior only out of environmental stress a Majungasaurus might canibalize, the Maevarano formation was a rough place to live indicated by it had a slow growth rate taking 20 years to reach maturity. Animals in rough conditions tend to grow slower to use less energy. Majungasaurus main source of food was the sauropod Rapetosaurus but it ate anything it could sink it’s teeth into like Masiakasaurus Beelzebufo Simosuchus, Adalatherium

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