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DinoFan83 · 02-18-2021, 06:00 AM

Skorpiovenator ("scorpion hunter") is a genus of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian to Turonian) Huincul Formation of Argentina. It is one of the most complete and informative abelisaurids yet known, with the excavated skeleton of the holotype (MMCH-Pv 48K) preserving everything except parts of the front arms and some of the tail. As preserved, it measures 4.35 meters from the premaxilla to the 12th caudal vertebra, with estimates of the total length varying from 6 to 7.5 meters depending on the tail length. A 2016 estimate by Gregory S. Paul suggests 1670 kg for the holotype specimen, and therefore Skorpiovenator was a medium sized animal by abelisaurid standards.
Skorpiovenator's skull was short, stout and covered in the ridges, furrows, tubercles and bumpy nodules that are scattered over the heads of most abelisaurid theropods. It is shorter and deeper than the skulls of Abelisaurus and Majungasaurus. Notably, the maxilla and lacrimal of Skorpiovenator are wider than in the corresponding bones of the remaining abelisaurids, and it has more teeth than any other known abelisaurid. It had short, stubby, and useless arms, but strong legs with powerful thighs and sturdy shins over which its large body was balanced.
Hailing from the Huincul Formation, some of the dinosaurs Skorpiovenator would have coexisted with were giant carcharodontosaurids (Giganotosaurus roseae and an unnamed genus), giant titanosaurs (Argentinosaurus), other abelisauroids (Tralkasaurus, Ilokelesia, and possibly Gualicho), and basal tyrannosauroids (possibly Gualicho and Aoniraptor).

DinoFan83 · 02-18-2021, 06:13 AM

Skorpiovenator skeletal by Greg Paul.