FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Eocarcharia is a Carcharodontosaur genus of theropod dinosaur group that lived in the Elrhaz Formation from the Early Cretaceous. Eocarcharia translates to 'dawn shark.' Eocarcharia dinops might have measured up to 19.7-26.2 ft (6-8 m) in length. This dinosaur lived around 112 million years ago in the Sahara, where the current country Niger is located. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist of the University of Chicago, led an expedition in 2000 and discovered the remains of this dinosaur. The only dinosaur and type species of this genus is Eocarcharia dinops. This specific scientific term translates to 'fierce-eyed,' referring to their swollen brow, one of the distinct features of this species. These dinosaurs had blade-shaped, sharp teeth, which were used for paralyzing their prey before ripping them apart. The Greek term Carcharodontosauridae translates to 'shark-toothed-lizards.' This family has some of the largest land predator species ever discovered. Ernst Stromer named this family in 1931 to classify the newly discovered Carcharodontosaurus saharicus within this family. Paul Sereno gave Carcharodontosauridae a classification of a clade in 1998.
If you enjoy reading these fun facts about the Eocarcharia species, then make sure to check some more facts about the Altispinax and the Variraptor on Kidadl.
The pronunciation of Eocarcharia is 'E-oh-kar-ka-ree-ah.'
Eocarcharia (dawn shark) is a genus within the clade Theropoda. This creature was a meat-eater. The only type species of Eocarcharia is Eocarcharia dinops. One of the distinct features, the bony eyebrow that sticks out were probably used during mating rituals. Sereno also said that 'brow-beating may not be far from the truth.'
Eocarcharia dinosaur was from the Elrhaz Formation (Niger) from the Early Cretaceous around 112 million years ago.
Eocarcharia (dawn shark) probably became extinct in the mass extinction event of the Cretaceous-Paleogene period.
Eocarcharia (dawn shark) lived in the Sahara of what is known as the country Niger today. This area was home to many other bizarre creatures like the sailed back, fish-eating Suchomimus (crocodile mimic), and hyena-looking Kryptops, along with Eocarcharia were the meat-eating trio of their time period.
Eocarcharia (dawn shark) lived around terrestrial habitats with woodlands.
Eocarcharia dinops probably lived in groups and died in groups like all other dinosaurs.
The average or maximum life expectancy of this species is not yet known.
The reproduction of Eocarcharia dinops is oviparous like all their relatives. However, more about the breeding process and incubation period is not known.
Eocarcharia dinops is the only type species of Eocarcharia. Eocarcharia dinops dinosaurs were named for their distinct features, swollen bony eyebrows, and blade-shaped teeth. This huge band of bone on their eyebrows gave them a menacing glare. Their sharp teeth were blade-shaped used to paralyzing and ripping their prey apart.
The exact number of bones in the Eocarcharia dinosaur's skeleton is not known. Only several cranial bones and a single isolated tooth were recovered during the excavation.
This dinosaur of Sahara (Niger) might have communicated through calls, songs, and even body language like involving in ritualistic fights using their bony eyebrows.
The size range of these species was around 19.7-26.2 ft (6-8 m) in length. This dinosaur was almost half the length of Spinosaurus.
These Eocarcharians were bipedal species so, they might have been pretty fast.
The weight of Eocarcharians was around 1,000 lb (453.5 kg). This dinosaur was way smaller and weighed a lot less than Mapusaurus.
No specific name has been given to these male and female theropods.
There is no specific name assigned to these baby theropods.
These dinosaurs were carnivores and fed on small dinosaurs. Their preferred dinosaurs species was the plant-eater Nigersaurus.
It is not known how aggressive these species were but it is believed that they were aggressive enough to hunt and rip their prey apart.
Some dinosaurs who lived with Eocarcharia in the Elrhaz Formation are sauropod Nigersaurus taqueti, theropods like Suchomimus tenerensis, and Kryptops palaios, and ornithopods like Lurdusaurus arenatus, Ouranosaurus nigeriensis, and Elrhazosarus nigeriensis.
The term Nigersaurus translates to 'Niger reptile'. These dinosaurs were short-necked and measured up to 30 ft (9 m). Their weight was 4.4 short tons (4 t) maybe the size of the current day elephants. The species Nigersaurus taqueti was named after almost two decades of their discovery (1976) in 1999 in detail by Sereno and his colleagues. These dinosaur fossils were also discovered in Elrhaz Formation. The specific scientific name taqueti honors Philippe Taquet, a French paleontologist who led the expedition.
Many studies on the Carcharodontosaurid found in Argentina indicate that these dinosaurs were slow-growing almost taking 30-40 years to reach sexual maturity. The maximum age recorded or studied at the time of their death was 50 years, which makes these species the oldest non-avian theropod.
It has been suggested that Carcharodontosaurids were even more closely related to abelisaurids than allosaurids. This is because these two clades share similar cranial features but these features have been apparently derived from the two clades' parallel evolution.
Allosauridea is a clade or superfamily within Theropoda consisting of four families, Carcharodontosauridae, Metriacanthosauridae, Neovenatoridae, and Allosauridae. Megalosauridea with this group were the apex predators in their time from the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous Period. Phil Currie and Zhao originally proposed this clade, which was later used by Paul Sereno as an undefined stem-based taxon. A distinctive feature shared by all Allosaurids is the triangle pubic boot.
The genus name Eorcacharia translates to dawn shark. The scientific name Eorcacharia dinops translates to 'fierce-eyed dawn shark.'
Eorcacharia lived around 112 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous and Daspletosaurus lived around 79.5-74 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous. Eorcacharia means 'dawn shark' whereas Daspletosaurus means 'frightful lizard.' Also, the type specimen of Daspletosaurus is Daspletosaurus torosus (CMN 8506). Charles Mortram Sternberg discovered Daspletosaurus way back in 1921 near Steveville in Alberta. They were fully described in later years in 1970 by Dale Russell. The specific name of the type species torosus is Latin for 'brawny' or 'muscular.' The only type species of the genus Eorcacharia is Eocarcharia dinops.
Daspletosaurus torosus measured up to 26-30 ft (8-9 m) from their snout to tail whereas Eocarcharia dinops measured up to 19.7-26.2 ft (6-8 m) in length.
Daspletosaurus dinosaurs were known to be at the top of the food chain probably eating some large dinosaurs like Hypacrosaurus (hadrosaur) and Centrasaurus (ceratopsid) while Eocarcharia fed on smaller plant-eaters like Nigersaurus but also known to be top predators back in their day.
A partial skeleton including the shoulder, the skull, all vertebrae from the hip, torso, and neck, the pelvis, a forelimb, a femur, and even the first 11 tail vertebrae of the Daspletosaurus torosus were recovered whereas only an isolated tooth and many cranial bones of Eocarcharia dinops were recovered.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Harpymimus facts and Edmarka facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Eocarcharia coloring pages.
Main image by TKWTH.
Second image by Nobu Tamura.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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