Concavenator Facts
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 2.5m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 400 kg |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Spain |

| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 2.5m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 400 kg |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Spain |
Concavenator was a remarkable theropod dinosaur that stalked the ancient landscapes of Spain during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 million years ago. This medium-sized predator measured about 6 metres in length and stood roughly 2.5 metres tall at the hip, making it smaller than giants like Tyrannosaurus but still a formidable hunter in its ecosystem.
What made Concavenator truly extraordinary was the distinctive triangular hump on its back, formed by elongated neural spines on its vertebrae. This striking feature has earned it the nickname 'humpback dinosaur' and sets it apart from all other known theropods. The purpose of this unusual hump remains a subject of scientific debate, with theories ranging from muscle attachment sites to display structures for attracting mates or intimidating rivals.
As a carnivorous theropod, Concavenator was equipped with sharp teeth and powerful claws for hunting prey. Its long, muscular legs suggest it was capable of reaching impressive speeds when pursuing smaller dinosaurs, early mammals, or other creatures that shared its Spanish habitat. The discovery of Concavenator has provided valuable insights into theropod diversity during the Early Cretaceous period in Europe.
Perhaps most intriguingly, some scientists have suggested that bumps on Concavenator's arm bones might have supported primitive feathers or feather-like structures, though this remains contentious. The nearly complete skeleton found at Las Hoyas represents one of the most important theropod discoveries in Europe, offering a unique window into Early Cretaceous predator evolution.
Concavenator's most distinctive feature was the prominent triangular hump on its back, formed by dramatically elongated neural spines. It also possessed relatively long arms with unusual bumps that some scientists interpret as possible feather attachment points.
Concavenator was likely an active pursuit predator, using its long, powerful legs to chase down prey across the Early Cretaceous Spanish landscape. The distinctive back hump may have been used for display purposes, possibly to attract mates or establish dominance over rivals and territory.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Order | Avetheropoda |
| Family | Carcharodontosauridae |
| Genus | Concavenator |
Concavenator was first described by Francisco Ortega and colleagues in 2010. The original fossils were discovered at Las Hoyas fossil site, La Huérguina Formation, Spain.