Alfredo J.

Negron
January 22, 2016
Period 3

Previous Topic - Therizinosaur

BBC 2011, Planet Dinosaur Excerpt from episode 6: The Great Survivors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iuRGYB9QLQ
Summary:
This youtube video gives some background information on the advantages
of the therizinosaurs evolving to completely alter their dietary system. For
example, there's plenty of easy access to food sources. But it mostly shows
possible perks by displaying an ancient case of Botulism from a group of
scavenging tyrannosaurs. Evolving to change one's diet from predator to
forager, means that there is usually safety from diseases such as these.
Application to Research:
This particular video shows me the advantages of changing diets during
evolution. This makes me think that if I want to see how far claw
specialization went, I would have to go back to look at the earliest
therizinosaur fossils known to man. I could then see how the claw evolution
was separated from there.
BC 2011, Planet Dinosaur Excerpt from episode 6: The Great Survivors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY7-R0TZKOw
Summary:
This youtube video gives some background information on the
therizinosaurs as a whole through presenting Nothronychus. Scientists only
had the vaguest picture of what therizinosaurs were like, until the recent
discovery of Nothronychus in North America. Short legs, big bellies, long
arms and claws, and a long neck and small head. These herbivores were too
slow to outrun danger, so their claws, as well as being used for gathering
food, are good for self-defense. Their closest cousins were actually the
tyrannosaurs, but they evolved to completely change their diet and lifestyle.
Application to Research:
It seems that this video provides brief, but useful background information on
the therizinosaur group. It can also help me with where to begin my
research. It really shows just how far evolution can go to create the creature
with the biggest advantages for survival.

Current Topic Abelisaur

10 Rough Facts About Majungasaurus. (n.d.). Mentalfloss. Retrieved from
http://mentalfloss.com/article/66566/10-rough-facts-aboutmajungasaurus
Summary
This week, Im focusing mainly on Majungasaurus crenatissimus to help
characterize the build that defines the tiger-like abelisaurs. This web article
is much of what is known about Majungasaurus. Many of the facts in the
article focus on its physical features. It was unusually stocky, so it couldnt
run too fast. Also, its eyes didnt move very well, or quickly. However, it
had better stamina due to having specialized air sacs, like birds. It also had
miniscule arms, but enormous shoulder blades.
Application to Research:
Majungasaurus is one of the most complete abelisaurs ever found, and it is
essentially a blueprint for the larger, stronger genera of this group of
dinosaurs. Unlocking the secrets of this animal could help me do likewise for
other abelisaurs of the same build.

Animal Behavior. (n.d.). Team Cheetah. Retrieved from

http://psf-cheetah.blogspot.com/p/animal-behavior_31.html
Summary
This week, Im looking at big cats, due to their many physical and ecological
similarities. This web page focuses on specifically cheetahs, which resemble
the abelisaurs built for speed, like Carnotaurus. The males occupy large
territories, living in small groups called coalitions. Each coalition is around 3
strong, and is usually a group of brothers from the same litter. The females
dont have any established territories, and they wander throughout their
home range. Their ranges, however, overlap with that of coalitions, allowing
for opportunities to mate. Coalitions of males establish their territories
through scent marking, and any coalition that ignores the warning risks
serious, if not mortal injuries from battle with the residents.
Application to Research:
The big cats and the abelisaurs were similar in many ways, from their
environments to their physical builds. Right now, Im trying to see if
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the social behavior exhibited by these cats would make a reasonable fit
for the abelisaurs they most resemble. The cheetahs lifestyle of living
solitarily or in small groups seems to be a possible lifestyle for speedy
and slim abelisaurs like Carnotaurus.

Arcovenator. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcovenator
Summary
This wikia page was updated about a month ago, so the info is current. This
one describes Arcovenator, a recently unearthed abelisaur from
France. Its discovery ended up proving the existence of abelisaurs in
Europe. The animals it lived alongside included titanosaurs,
iguanodonts, nodosaurs, and azhdarchid pterosaurs, which hunted on
the ground similar to a marabou stork. Arcovenator was around 20
feet long, so it may not have tackled tremendous prey.
Application to Research:
This ecosystem is fundamental to my research because those in France are
some of the more complete ones so far. They have representatives
from all components of your typical abelisaur ecosystem and more,
and this can help me to create a more detailed illustration of what
different predators and prey must have inhabited areas like these
across the globe.

Aucasaurus. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aucasaurus
Summary
This wikia page was updated about a month ago, so the info is current. This
one describes Aucasaurus, an abelisaur which stood no taller than a
human being. Although it was relatively small, it was a speedy
predator. Also in its ecosystem were titanosaurian sauropods, smaller
theropods, and Abelisaurus, the first abelisaur ever found. The
presence of smaller ornithopods indicates that these were its primary
food source.
Application to Research:
This ecosystem is fundamental to my research because it contains the
remains of more than one species of abelisaur. This seems to support
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my hypothesis of these animals adapting to different prey items

because different predators in an ecosystem specialize in different food
sources. Not unlike Africas big cats.

BBC 2011, Planet Dinosaur Excerpt from episode 5: New Giants

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QUK8gN1oSY
Summary:
This youtube video gives some information on mainly Argentinosaurus, one
of the largest animals in all of existence. But it starts out describing an early
abelisaurid called Skorpiovenator. This one was preying on the hatchlings in
the nesting site called Auca Mahuevo. At the time, the planet's top predators
were giant carcharodontosaurids that towered over even Tyrannosaurus Rex.
However, these smaller predators would eventually occupy the top of their
given food chain once those giant killing machines went extinct. The
abelisaurs in particular would grow horns at the top of their heads, the true
use for which is still unknown.
Application to Research:
This particular video helps provide me some useful information about what
abelisaurids may have been like before they were the apex predators on
multiple continents. They were scavengers or nest raiders, lower on the
predatory food chain than one might initially expect. Also, these earlier ones
didn't have horns, so that might rule out possible functions that scientists
might be thinking of.

BBC 2011, Planet Dinosaur Excerpt from episode3: Last Killers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqs8uRBD56A
Summary:
This youtube video gives some background information on the abelisaurs.
This is shown through the further research on Majungasaurus, an abelisaurid
from Madagascar. The jaws of the abelisaurs were unique, with their short
teeth and short, robust faces. Unlike tyrannosaurs, which crush bone, the
abelisaurs had jaws that were perfectly suited for grabbing hold and not
letting go, like a Rottweiler. Fossil specimens of this species also show one
other thing. They exhibit the first unquestionable proof of dinosaur
cannibalism.
Application to Research:

This particular video helps provide me some useful background information

on the abelisaurids, the apex predators that dominated wherever
tyrannosaurs didn't. I have decided to change my topic because a scientist
has already done my planned research on therizinosaurs. The abelisaurs,
however, are a good group of dinosaurs to conduct studies on, for I believe
there are still a few gaps in their research that can be filled.

Cameron, L. (2013). Birds Choose Sweet Smelling Mates. MSU Today.

Retrieved from
http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2013/birds-choose-sweet-smellingmates/
Summary:
This web article discusses a research project conducted in Michigan State
University. It reveals that birds actually communicate a sense of readiness to
mate through emitting odor. This sounds odd, but its something mostly
used in mammals, such as moose and bighorn sheep, in a similar sense.
Whats even more impressive is the fact that the strength and scent of the
odor is a direct correlation to reproductive success. The results of this
experiment proved that birds also communicate to members of their own
species using scents.
Application to Research:
Birds are the direct descendants of dinosaurs, and whatever is unique to
them, they received from their reptilian ancestors. That includes their bright
colors and methods of courtship to their mates. Big cats communicate
territorial boundaries and personal information to members of the same
species through scent marking, and their lifestyles seem to be a reasonable
fit for the abelisaurs. The fact that birds can communicate using scent
indicates that abelisaurs may have exhibited similar scent marking behavior.

Carnotaurus "Meat-eating bull". (n.d.). Retrieved from

www.bbcearth.com/walking-with-dinosaurs/modal/carnotaurus/.
Summary:
This website page gives a detailed description of most, if not all, of the
information regarding Carnotaurus sastrei, the most well recognized of all
the abelisaurs. It was 25-30 feet in length, and lived in Late Cretaceous
Argentina. It had a short, squarish head with short, stout teeth. It was built
to be fast as well as powerful, for it had running legs and a long, broad tail to
5

maintain balance. Its arms, however, were shorter and more vestigiallooking than even the T-Rex's, the use for which is still a mystery. Its most
notable feature is the two horns on top of its head. They may have been
used for display, or for headbutting.
Application to Research:
Anyone who wants to know anything about carnotaurus can find everything
he/she is looking for on this page, if it is updated enough. This animal is one
of the most famous, and one of the last abelisaurids that existed, similar to
how the tyrannosaurus represents its kin. By comparing carnotaurus to
other abelisaurs, I can identify what specializations each species may have
had, as well as any potential functions for some of its features.

Carnotaurus (n.d.). Walking With Dinosaurs. Retrieved from

http://dinosaurs.ff0000.com/dinosaurs/detail/carnotaurus/
Summary
This week, Im focusing mainly on Carnotaurus sastrei to help characterize
the build that defines the cheetah-like abelisaurs. This web page has a
complete database on what scientists know about this animal. Its jaws were
short and robust, and a vaulted skull allowed them to snap down with a
decent amount of force. It was able to hold on securely with its backwardcurving teeth. Its eyes were relatively small, and its field of vision isnt as
wide as ours, but it allowed for three-dimensional vision nonetheless.
Application to Research:
Carnotaurus is one of the most complete abelisaurs ever found, and it is
essentially a blueprint for the smaller, faster genera of this group of
dinosaurs. Unlocking the secrets of this animal could help me do likewise for
other abelisaurs of the same build.

Lameta Formation. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lameta_Formation
Summary
This wiki page has been recently updated, so it is relevant. It focuses on an
abelisaur ecosystem in the Lameta Formation in India. It was an area full of
marshes and lakes, making it a floodplain. Dinosaurs discovered in the area
include titanosaur sauropods, ornithopods, small theropods, a possible
6

nodosaur, and three abelisaurs. These were Indosuchus, Indosaurus, and

Rajasaurus, the first dinosaur ever discovered in India. Rajasaurus was bulky
and powerful, while the other two were smaller and faster.
Application to Research:
This source is helpful to me because it helps me to create another picture of
an abelisaur ecosystem. A similar environment in Patagonia, Argentina had
a small and speedy abelisaur named Aucasaurus, and the bulky and powerful
Abelisaurus. The habitat where the Indian abelisaurs lived is similar to
another Patagonian formation, which was full of marshes and lakes, making it
a floodplain.

Majungasaurus. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majungasaurus
Summary:
This Wiki page was edited a month ago, so it is completely reliable. It gives
a complete database on Majungasaurus crenatissimus, the cannibalistic apex
predator of Late Cretaceous Madagascar. It gives descriptions on everything,
from the environment it lived in and the animals it hunted, to its hunting
strategy and physical features. It inhabited a semiarid floodplain with
seasonal temperatures and rainfall. It hunted in a way similar to today's big
cats; by biting the neck and holding on until its victim was subdued. This
animal also showed the first irrefutable evidence of dinosaur cannibalism.
Application to Research:
This page has all known information on the Majungasaurus, which can help
me to identify what could have caused this animal to evolve its physical build
to adapt to something. I can do this by comparing its surroundings to that of
other Late Cretaceous Abelisaurs. So far, the picture surrounding the
Abelisaurs is beginning to come together.

Markey, S. (2013). New Abelisaur Found in Africa was (not) T. Rex Sized.
Krank.ie. Retrieved from http://www.krank.ie/category/sci/nat/newabelisaur-found-in-africa-was-t-rexsized/
Summary:
This web page posts an article about a massive new abelisaur that was
discovered in Kenya. This animal was almost the size of the mighty
Tyrannosaurus Rex. This beast lasted long enough to witness the great
7

extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. Unlike some of its kin,
however, it didn't have any horns, but a thickened skull. The only issue is its
head was structurally weak, relatively speaking, so it didn't headbutt with it.
It lived in what is now the Turkana Grits Formation in Kenya, where it shared
its habitat with 2 iguanodonts, 3 sauropods, and 1 other large predator.
Application to Research:
This new find can help me to look for other reasons why an animal like this
would have a thick skull. I can compare the skull of this newly discovered
creature to those of other abelisaurids, and see what the similarities and
differences are between them. This can help me eliminate or uncover any
potential uses for them.

Massive Caudofemoralis Muscles Gave Carnotaurus its Speed (2013). Ask

Why. Retrieved
from http://askwhy.co.uk/dinosauroids/?p=10939
Summary
This week, Im focusing mainly on Carnotaurus sastrei to help characterize
the build that defines the cheetah-like abelisaurs. This web article explains
the science behind the extreme speed of Carnotaurus. It had the largest
caudofemoralis (muscle connecting tail to legs) of any dinosaur, and it
allowed this predator to push its legs back with plenty of force, propelling it
forward and move at high speeds. However, there were some caudal ribs
in the caudofemoralis that made the tail very rigid, so it couldnt make any
tight turns.
Application to Research:
Carnotaurus is one of the most complete abelisaurs ever found, and it is
essentially a blueprint for the smaller, faster genera of this group of
dinosaurs. Unlocking the secrets of this animal could help me do likewise for
other abelisaurs of the same build.

Nodosauridae. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodosauridae
Summary:
This wiki page has been updated late last month, so its completely
relevant. It describes the nodosaurs, a group of armored dinosaurs that were
prey items for the abelisaurs Im researching. They had armor plating, and
8

ridges of longer spikes on the rim of their sides and shoulders. They had
stiff, spiky tails that were used to defend themselves from predators. The
biggest difference between them, and their cousins the ankylosaurs, is that
they didnt have a bony club at the end of their tails.
Application to Research:
These animals were one of the more difficult prey items for the abelisaurs to
tackle, and taking them out would require a step-by-step hunting strategy. I
believe that me being able to figure out different methods of subduing prey
will help me to understand what caused the abelisaurs to shift into different
physical builds.

Physical Characteristics and behavior. (n.d.). Tiger Tribe. Retrieved from

http://tigertribe.net/tigers-origin/physical-characteristics-andbehaviour/
Summary
This week, Im looking at big cats, due to their many physical and ecological
similarities. This web page focuses on specifically tigers, which resemble the
abelisaurs built for power, like Majungasaurus. They live a mostly solitary
lifestyle, establishing large territories rich in resources essential for survival.
Through scent marking, they let other nearby tigers know whos in charge in
the local areas. When mating season arrives, males and females get
together for a relatively short period of time before going their separate
ways. A female will raise its cubs for about two years before leaving on their
own, but they sometimes come back to spend time with mom and her next
litter.
Application to Research:
The big cats and the abelisaurs were similar in many ways, from their
environments to their physical builds. Right now, Im trying to see if the
social behavior exhibited by these cats would make a reasonable fit for the
abelisaurs they most resemble. The tigers lifestyle of living solitarily or in
small groups seems to be a possible lifestyle for powerful and bulky
abelisaurs like Majungasaurus.

Pol, D. (2015). Late Cretaceous reptilian biota of the La Colonia Formation,

central Patagonia,
Argentina: Occurrences, preservation, and
paleoenvironments. Academia. Retrieved
from

http://www.academia.edu/12561898/Late_Cretaceous_reptilian_biota_of_the_
La_Colo
nia_Formation_central_Patagonia_Argentina_Occurrences_preservation_and_p
aleoenv
ironments
Summary:
This web article contains records about the most recent findings from the
La Colonia Formation in Argentina. This was where Carnotaurus, the most
well-known of the Abelisaurs, lived. Among the findings were titanosaur
vertebrae, remains from a nodosaur, and fragments from a hadrosaur or
iguanodont. The area was once a coastal floodplain with distinct dry and wet
seasons, on the premises of an estuary. The apex predator of the region was
Carnotaurus sastrei, an Abelisaur most widely recognized for the horns on its
head, the use for which are still a mystery.
Application to Research:
This gives me a clearer picture of the ecosystem of which Carnotaurus
inhabited. Now that I know what its prey was, and what its environment was,
I can have a better idea of what may have caused it to become a faster
predator with horns.

Rhabdodon. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdodon
Summary:
This wiki page has been updated earlier this month, so its completely
relevant. It describes an iguanodontid dinosaur called Rhabdodon, which
lived in Southern Europe at the same time its predator, Tarascosaurus,
dominated the ecosystem. It was relatively small for an iguanodontid, and
for a dinosaur in general, but it must have made up for in speed, agility, and
a high sense of alertness. It may have been a more ideal food source for the
abelisaur, Tarascosaurus, and it may have required speed and/or stealth to
effectively apprehend one.
Application to Research:
These animals were one of the more ideal prey items for the abelisaurs to
tackle, but taking out such agile creatures must require some ambush
hunting strategy. I believe that me being able to figure out different methods
of subduing prey will help me to understand what caused the abelisaurs to
shift into different physical builds.
10

Scott, C. (2011). Enter The Abelisaurids. Planet Dinosaur. (pp. 104)

Summary:
This page in a book describes how the abelisaurids were first discovered,
and the basic description of this group of dinosaurs. While the tyrannosaurs
dominated the northern continents, North America and Asia (apart from
India), the abelisaurs were the top predators in the south. This pretty much
means everywhere else. Abelisaurus was first discovered in 1985, and the
rest of its kin received its name for the group. They all had the same
characteristics; short, robust faces with stout teeth, and arms which were
more vestigial-looking than those of the tyrannosaurs, but with four fingers
on each. Many also had one or more horns on their heads, of which may
have been for display rituals, or in headbutting battles.
Application to Research:
This passage in the book helps to clarify or explain any questions or thoughts
people might have on the abelisaurs. It gives a pretty good description for
any species of abelisaur, and it gives possible explanations for some of their
features. I, however, intend to go farther in finding out what these body parts
were used for.

S, Rodrigo. (2014). Theropod teeth from the Adamantina Formation (Bauru

Group,
Upper Cretaceous), Monte Alto, So Paulo, Brazil. Science Direct.
Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667114000615
Summary
This web article focuses on the discovery of theropod teeth in Sao Paulo,
Brazil. Among these teeth were those of abelisaurs, which have already
been discovered in the area. However, some of the teeth belong to
dromaeosaurs, a group of dinosaurs more commonly known as raptors.
Before this, there was no evidence that they existed in this area, but now
there is. These particular dromaeosaurs belong to a particular group which
includes Deinonychus, a swift carnivore larger than a man, which lived in
Early Cretaceous North America.
Application to Research:
11

This source is helpful to me because it helps me to create another picture of

an abelisaur ecosystem. A similar environment in France had a 9-foot
dromaeosaur called Pyroraptor olympius, which lived alongside an abelisaur
called Tarascosaurus salluvicus. This is merely more support to the idea that
two nearly identical ecosystems can emerge in separate landmasses in the
same time period.

Switek, B. (2011). Carnotaurus Had a Hefty Neck. Smithsonian Magazine.

Retrieved from
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/sciencenature/carnotaurus-had-a-hefty-neck24787083/?no-ist
Summary:
This web article shows how Carnotaurus was different from the other
abelisaurids, in the fact that it had a surprisingly thick neck. Apparently, this
is the only one to have one, and it makes its skull and neck much more
robust. This was thought, initially, to be the explanation for why Carnotaurus
had such vestigial-looking arms. This may have helped to strengthen its bite
force and jaw pressure, which would be helpful, mostly when eating.
Application to Research:
This can help me to see the specialized morphology in abelisaur heads and
necks. Carnotaurus's closest relative, Majungasaurus, had a neck only
around half as thick, so it can help me to look at how diverse abelisaur head
structures really were.

Sitwek, B. (2011). Inside Sauropod Armor. Smithsonian. Retrieved from

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inside-sauropodarmor-1153473/
Summary:
This web article explains what could have been the true purpose of
titanosaur osteoderms. Osteoderms were originally thought to have served
as body armor for the titanosaurs that were preyed on by the Abelisaurs.
However, after looking at the osteoderms on a juvenile and adult
Rapetosaurus, new findings suggest that these animals were not so armored
after all. The juvenile osteoderms were solid, but the ones on the adult were
hollow. This now leads scientists to believe that the osteoderms were not
armor plating, but mineral reservoirs. This would help to more rapidly absorb
minerals and nutrients like Calcium into the body, and therefore, fuel the
only main defense of a sauropod against predators; grow up fast.
12

Application to Research:
This new finding on the potential defenses of these titanosaurs actually helps
me with what could have caused change in the Abelisaurs because they were
their rivals in evolution, similar to the tyrannosaurs and ceratopsians.
Because these prey items are not heavily armored, this can help me more
easily piece together hunting strategies of Abelisaurs and what caused them
to adapt to different physical builds.

Tarascosaurus. (2015). Dinopedia. Retrieved from

http://dinopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Tarascosaurus
Summary:
This Wiki page was edited a couple of months ago, so it is completely
reliable. It gives a basic gist on what we know about Tarascosaurus
salluvicus, the dominant predator in the South of France. This beast grew to
a length of almost 30 feet, and was named after a mythological dragon of
French legend. It lived on a coastal floodplain, where it dwelled alongside
dinosaurs like Rhabdodon, Ampelosaurus, and Pyroraptor. Unlike other
Abelisaurs, this one seemed to be a bit... generic. It doesn't really have any
evidence suggesting any unique traits.
Application to Research:
This page contains what is currently known of Tarascosaurus. I can compare
its ecosystem and physical build to those of other members of its family. The
best part is how it seems to be a typical Abelisaur; It is the middle ground
between two different breeds of Abelisaur. I can use this as a sort of "origin
point" to determine how some of these animals diverged onto different
evolutionary paths.

Terai-Duar Savannas and Grasslands. WWF. Retrieved from

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/teraiduar_savannas_
grasslands.cfm
Summary:
This web page describes the Terai-Duar grasslands of northern India, which
are pretty much the Asian Serengeti. Home to a variety of wildlife, including
deer, rhinos, elephants, tigers, leopards, pygmy hogs, honey badgers, and a
vast array of animals found nowhere else on earth; at least not in the same
ecosystem together. The area is a thin band of flat terrain, stretching east to
13

west. It includes a patch of forest where there is much more dense foliage,
and adjacent to that, in the north, is the foot of the Himalayas mountains,
home to snow leopards and bharals.
Application to Research:
I am examining this modern ecoregion because it shows an area which has a
strikingly similar region in east Africa. This is similar to how many of the
abelisaur ecosystems and environments are similar, even on different
landmasses at once. This also has big cats of multiple physical builds living
in the same area, and not too long ago, there were lions and cheetahs living
in the same time and place as the tigers and various species of leopards.
This ecosystem shows how next to identical two environments can be, and
the diversity of top predators it can have.

The Five Most Gruesome Dinosaur Injuries Ever Discovered. (2015). Forbes.
Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/shaenamontanari/2015/07/01/the-fivemost-gruesome dinosaur-injuries-everdiscovered/#2715e4857a0b7f01b86917f1
Summary
This week, Im focusing mainly on Majungasaurus crenatissimus to help
characterize the build that defines the tiger-like abelisaurs. This web article
is aimed more towards dinosaur injuries, but it points out one of
Majungasaurus defining traits: cannibalism. Many skeletons were loaded
with bite marks, and they were the only predators large enough to be the
culprits. The teeth also match their own kind, and many of the marks come
from ripping flesh off of bone. Many of the bites are on the limbs, which
would indicate that these conflicts were not just competitive.
Application to Research:
Majungasaurus is one of the most complete abelisaurs ever found, and it is
essentially a blueprint for the larger, stronger genera of this group of
dinosaurs. Unlocking the secrets of this animal could help me do likewise for
other abelisaurs of the same build.

T. Holtz, personal communication, November 18, 2015

Summary:

14

This article from a human source discusses the discovery of an abelisaur

named Arcovenator, and the possible distribution of abelisaurs between
Europe, Africa, and India. This species was more closely related to members
of its clade in Africa, India, and Madagascar, rather than those in South
America. Interestingly enough, along with parts of its jaw, femur, and partial
skeleton, scientists were able to recover a complete braincase. This means
that, if put through a CT scanner, well be able to tell what its brain looked
like.
Application to Research:
From the looks of it, whatever similarities there are between Arcovenator and
the South American abelisaurs can help to point me in the direction of their
source. In other words, this can help me to identify the chief factor in the
variations of the species physical structures. I am also led to believe that
maybe abelisaurs could have adapted to hunt different prey items because
they could have been serving different roles in the same ecosystem.

T. Holtz, personal communication, November 18, 2015

Summary:
This article from a human source investigates the arm structure of
Carnotaurus. As with all abelisaurs, their arms are puny stubs which were
even shorter than that of the tyrannosaurs. They had four practically
nonexistent digits on each hand, and with Aucasaurus, only two of them had
bones. Surprisingly, the structure of the arms would have allowed for a
relatively wide range of motion. Even more intriguing, the diversity in arm
structure in abelisaurs is similar to the diversity of their horn and head
structures.
Application to Research:
As well as looking for differences in physical builds, Im also looking for any
differences in features that may have given them any slight advantages in
their particular environments. The arms in particular were slightly varied in
the manner that Im trying to single out. They may look vestigial, but they
seemed to have been clearly used for something.

T. R. Holtz, personal communication, November 4, 2015

Summary

15

This email contains multiple scientific articles on the abelisaurs, and many of
them describe new species discovered in 2000-2003. In this report, I will
discuss an abelisaur called Pycnonemosaurus. This creature lived in Late
Cretaceous Brazil, and was similar to the abelisaurs in Patagonia, Argentina.
What sets this animal apart from other abelisaurs is its powerful legs. The
discovery of this species was the first confirmed abelisaur in Late Cretaceous
Brazil.
Application to Research:
Im especially interested in how Pycnonemosaurus had unusually powerful
legs, and how this could help me investigate the adaptations of abelisaurs
and their features. Im going to use three distinct species to represent each
main physical build, but Im going to have to look into much more abelisaurs
than that if Im going to draw plausible conclusions.

T. R. Holtz, personal communication, November 4, 2015

Summary
This email contains multiple scientific articles on the abelisaurs, and many of
them describe new species discovered in 2000-2003. In this report, I will
discuss an abelisaur called aucasaurus garridoi. This creatures name is
derived from the Auca Mahuevo Formation in Patagonia, Argentina. It is
believed that this animal could have been a nest raider, due to it being
surrounded by nests that did not belong to its own kind. Auca Mahuevo was
a sauropod nesting site that was continually used for hundreds of thousands
of years. The predator, however, is strikingly similar to Carnotaurus sastrei,
but with a few notable differences.
Application to Research:
Although there are a few notable differences between Aucasaurus and
Carnotaurus, they are very similar to one another. This can help me identify
any shifts in lifestyles that may have caused differences in physical builds.
They both lived in Patagonia, but I doubt they were in the same ecosystem.
This could assist me to find differences in these dominant predators.

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