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Paleontologists have discovered a new species of carnivorous dinosaur in Normandy, France, dating back about 100 million years.
This carnivorous “monster” was named Caletodraco cottardi and belongs to the Furileusauria subgroup in the Abelisauridae family. (Photo: Sci.News)
Surprisingly, Abelisaurids are generally thought to have inhabited the supercontinent Gondwana, which included South America, Africa, and other regions, so finding one in Europe is a surprise. The discovery suggests that this group of dinosaurs had a wider distribution than previously thought. (Image: Species New to Science)
Abelisaurids were sickle-shaped, with integrated hindlimbs and short head lengths.
Most of them are carnivorous and move on two legs.
They existed from the Jurassic period based on fossils, and some genera lived into the late Cretaceous (about 66 million years ago).
The skulls of Abelisaurids were typically tall and short, with numerous grooves and holes.
Some species such as Carnotaurus had short skull lengths and bony spines above the eyes.
Most Abelisaurids ranged in length from nose to tail from about 5 to 9 m, but there is one unnamed species from Kenya that could reach 11–12 m in length.