Millions of years before dinosaurs roamed the earth, our planet was home to herbivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous dinocephalics. Just as the giant Tyrannosaurus rex was a terrifying predator of prehistoric times, the Permian period was ruled by a cruel carnivorous anteosaur, especially on the territory of today’s African continent. New research has shown that he was not a primitive “sloth”, as scientists thought due to his clumsiness, but a nimble, agile and intelligent hunter.
Long before the dinosaurs
The Dinocephali lived in the mid-late Permian period, ie at the end of the Protozoan. They grew to around 6 meters in length and were among the largest animals of the time. In addition to Africa, fossils have been found in Russia, China and Brazil. They died out suddenly and for unknown reasons some thirty million years before the dinosaurs. Their place was taken by more developed therapsids (mammalian reptiles). Anteosaurus lived mainly in Africa 265-260 million years ago, just by idea, 200 million years before the T-rex. It had short limbs, a massive tail like a crocodile, a huge skull measuring 80 cm, strong and muscular jaws with giant teeth, mainly canines, with which it easily crushed bones. His head was “decorated” with protrusions. His bones were heavy and strong. Scientists believed it was very cumbersome and slow. It therefore fed on carrion. “Some scientists even speculated that the antaosaur was so heavy it could only live in water,” says Dr. J. Benoit of the Institute of Evolutionary Studies of the University of the Witwatersrand. So it probably hunted like a crocodile, dragging its prey under the surface. New research on the remains, however, surprised.
Scientists have discovered the largest dinosaur of all time – the giant monster didn’t even kill the T-Rex
Elena Velimska
reading for 2 minutes
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Smart and agile
The fossil remains of an anteosaur found are only partial, but paleontologists have 32 skulls at their disposal, 16 of which are relatively well preserved. Using X-rays and 3D reconstruction, Benoit’s team studied one of the best preserved skulls (2021) and found that the antaosaur had a balance organ in the inner ear, larger than its relatives and predators of today. Most of the brain coordinated eye movement, just like in fast predators. “Agile predators such as cheetahs or the infamous velociraptor have always had highly specialized nervous systems and perfected sensory organs that allowed them to effectively track and hunt prey,” says Benoit. According to him, anteosaur “… he was not a primitive creature, but a powerful prehistoric killing machine.” Although not a fast runner, he was faster than the herbivores he hunted and was able to track and kill them. Paleontologists believe that the prey overturned the huge skull protected by a bony shield and bite. He probably also used his tail for strong blows.
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Source: Youtube
Anteosaurus and his relatives
New research has shown that the antaosaur was not an amphibian as previously thought, but a warm-blooded terrestrial creature. Scientists also believed that there were at least six species, such as Anteosaurus magnificus. They compared the teeth, the shape of the skull and other features, which showed that the antaosaur was most likely a separate species. It is now believed that what scientists thought was a “species” is just a different stage of development. The anteosaurus is the largest known non-mammalian carnivorous synapse, the ancestor of today’s mammals.
Scientists have found the oldest prehistoric predator. It was terrible and crushed its victims with its feet
Elena Velimska
reading for 3 minutes
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Resources: www.messagetoeagle.com, dinopedia.fandom.com, www.fossilguy.com
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