Caphirosaurus: Difference between revisions
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'''''Caphirosaurus''''' is a genus of caphirosaurid theropod dinosaur. The species '''''Caphirosaurus imperator''''' (''imperator'' meaning "emperor" in Latin), sometimes colloquially called '''''Imperatorsaurus''''', is one of the best represented of the large theropods. ''Caphirosaurus'' lived throughout what | '''''Caphirosaurus''''' is a genus of caphirosaurid theropod dinosaur. The species '''''Caphirosaurus imperator''''' (''imperator'' meaning "emperor" in Latin), sometimes colloquially called '''''Imperatorsaurus''''', is one of the best represented of the large theropods. ''Caphirosaurus'' lived throughout what was then a supercontinent known as [[Sarpolevantia]], with fossils found particularly in [[Caphiria]] and southern [[Urcea]]. ''Caphirosaurus'' had a much wider range than other theropods. Fossils are found in a variety of rock formations dating to the Upper Cretaceous period, 69 to 66 million years ago. It was the last known member of the caphirosaurids and among the last non-avian dinosaurs to exist before the {{wpl|Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event}}. | ||
Like other caphirosaurids, ''Caphirosaurus'' was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy tail. Relative to its large and powerful hind limbs, the forelimbs of ''Caphirosaurus'' were short but unusually powerful for their size, and they had two clawed digits. The most complete specimen measures up to 14.1 meters (47 feet) in length, though ''C. imperator'' could grow to lengths of over 15.2 m (50 ft), up to 4.25 m (14 ft) tall at the hips, and according to most modern estimates 8.4 metric tons (9.3 short tons) to 14 metric tons (15.4 short tons) in weight. Although a few other theropods rivaled or exceeded ''Caphirosaurus imperator'' in size, it is still among the largest known land predators and is estimated to have exerted the strongest bite force among all terrestrial animals. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''Caphirosaurus imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'', and possibly sauropods. Some experts have suggested the dinosaur was primarily a scavenger. The question of whether ''Caphirosaurus'' was an apex predator or a pure scavenger was among the longest debates in paleontology. Most paleontologists today accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger. | Like other caphirosaurids, ''Caphirosaurus'' was a bipedal carnivore with a massive skull balanced by a long, heavy tail. Relative to its large and powerful hind limbs, the forelimbs of ''Caphirosaurus'' were short but unusually powerful for their size, and they had two clawed digits. The most complete specimen measures up to 14.1 meters (47 feet) in length, though ''C. imperator'' could grow to lengths of over 15.2 m (50 ft), up to 4.25 m (14 ft) tall at the hips, and according to most modern estimates 8.4 metric tons (9.3 short tons) to 14 metric tons (15.4 short tons) in weight. Although a few other theropods rivaled or exceeded ''Caphirosaurus imperator'' in size, it is still among the largest known land predators and is estimated to have exerted the strongest bite force among all terrestrial animals. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''Caphirosaurus imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'', and possibly sauropods. Some experts have suggested the dinosaur was primarily a scavenger. The question of whether ''Caphirosaurus'' was an apex predator or a pure scavenger was among the longest debates in paleontology. Most paleontologists today accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger. | ||
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A study conducted by the [[University of Collinebourg]] found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had heightened sensory abilities, highlighting relatively rapid and coordinated eye and head movements; an enhanced ability to sense low frequency sounds, which would allow '' Caphirosaurus'' to track prey movements from long distances; and an enhanced sense of smell. A study published by Pierre concluded that ''Caphirosaurus'' had keen vision. By applying modified perimetry to facial reconstructions of several dinosaurs including ''Caphirosaurus'', the study found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had a binocular range of 55 degrees, surpassing that of modern hawks. Pierre estimated that ''Caphirosaurus'' had 13 times the visual acuity of a human and surpassed the visual acuity of an eagle, which is 3.6 times that of a person. Stevens estimated a limiting far point (that is, the distance at which an object can be seen as separate from the horizon) as far as 6 km (3.7 mi) away, which is greater than the 1.6 km (1 mi) that a human can see. | A study conducted by the [[University of Collinebourg]] found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had heightened sensory abilities, highlighting relatively rapid and coordinated eye and head movements; an enhanced ability to sense low frequency sounds, which would allow '' Caphirosaurus'' to track prey movements from long distances; and an enhanced sense of smell. A study published by Pierre concluded that ''Caphirosaurus'' had keen vision. By applying modified perimetry to facial reconstructions of several dinosaurs including ''Caphirosaurus'', the study found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had a binocular range of 55 degrees, surpassing that of modern hawks. Pierre estimated that ''Caphirosaurus'' had 13 times the visual acuity of a human and surpassed the visual acuity of an eagle, which is 3.6 times that of a person. Stevens estimated a limiting far point (that is, the distance at which an object can be seen as separate from the horizon) as far as 6 km (3.7 mi) away, which is greater than the 1.6 km (1 mi) that a human can see. | ||
Most paleontologists accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger like most large carnivores. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''C. imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'' | Most paleontologists accept that ''Caphirosaurus'' was both an active predator and a scavenger like most large carnivores. By far the largest carnivore in its environment, ''C. imperator'' was most likely an apex predator, preying upon hadrosaurs, juvenile armored herbivores like ''[[Tassellasaurus]]'' and ''[[Testudosaurus]]'' and sauropods. A study in 2012 by Francois de Carre and Edmond Falk found that ''Caphirosaurus'' had the most powerful bite of any terrestrial animal that has ever lived, finding an adult ''Caphirosaurus'' could have exerted 35,000 to 57,000 N (7,868 to 12,814 lbf) of force in the back teeth. Even higher estimates were made by Falk in 2003. This allowed it to crush bones during repetitive biting and fully consume the carcasses of large dinosaurs. Falk and colleagues calculated that ''Caphirosaurus'' was capable of a maximum jaw gape of around 80 degrees, a necessary adaptation for a wide range of jaw angles to power the creature's strong bite. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Dinosaurs in Yonderre]] | |||
*[[History of paleontology]] | * [[History of paleontology]] | ||
[[Category:Paleontology]] | [[Category:Paleontology]] | ||