Paleobiogeographic evolution and distribution of Carcharodontosauridae (Dinosauria, Theropoda) during the middle Cretaceous of North Africa

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2018.58.29

Keywords:

Carcharodontosauridae, Gondwana, Middle Cretaceous, North Africa, Overlap.

Abstract

Over the last few decades, the systematics and evolution of carcharodontosaurids, a group of large predatory dinosaurs, from North Africa have been better understood mainly due the discovery of new species. We review this record here and discuss its importance for understanding the evolution and ecology of these dinosaurs. North Africa has one of the best records of carcharodontosaurid species. These species show dietary specializations and paleogeographic distributions similar to other top predatory theropods such as Abelisauridae and Spinosauridae. However, carcharodontosaurids have a wider distribution than other large theropods. The middle Cretaceous of North Africa was characterized by the niche overlap between large predators. This evidence increases our understanding of the evolution of Carcharodontosauridae in a highly competitive region, a conjuncture rarely reported for large top predators.

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Author Biographies

  • Carlos Roberto dos Anjos Candeiro, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Laboratório de Paleontologia e Evolução (LABPALEOEVO), Curso de Geologia.
    Rua Mucuri, s/nº, Área 03, Setor Conde dos Arcos, Campus Aparecida de Goiânia, CEP 74969‑017, Aparecida de Goiânia, GO, Brasil.
  • Sthepen Louis Brusatte, University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, School of GeoSciences.
    James Hutton Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, Scotland.
  • Luciano Vidal, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Laboratório de Paleontologia e Evolução (LABPALEOEVO), Curso de Geologia.
    Rua Mucuri, s/nº, Área 03, Setor Conde dos Arcos, Campus Aparecida de Goiânia, CEP 74969‑017, Aparecida de Goiânia, GO, Brasil.
  • Paulo Victor Luiz Gomes da Costa Pereira, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Instituto de Geociências (IGEO), Departamento de Geologia, Laboratório de Macrofósseis.
    Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos, 274, Bloco G, Cidade Universitária, CEP 21941‑916, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

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Published

2018-06-27

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Paleobiogeographic evolution and distribution of Carcharodontosauridae (Dinosauria, Theropoda) during the middle Cretaceous of North Africa. (2018). Papéis Avulsos De Zoologia, 58, e20185829. https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2018.58.29