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eocarcharia: carnivore dinosaur from the Cretaceous era

Eocarcharia Facts

Pronunciation: EE-oh-kar-CARE-ee-ah

Name meaning: Dawn shark

Diet	Carnivore
Height	2.5m
Length	8m
Weight	2 tonnes
Environment	Land
Era	Cretaceous
Period	Early Cretaceous
Type	Theropod
Location	Niger, Africa

Eocarcharia represents one of palaeontology's more intriguing puzzles. Originally described as a single species of theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period, this creature's identity has since become the subject of considerable scientific debate. The fossils were discovered in Niger's Ténéré Desert in 2000 and initially classified as belonging to one large predatory dinosaur.

The story of Eocarcharia became complicated when later researchers examined the fossil material more closely. They found evidence suggesting that the bones originally assigned to this single species may actually represent remains from at least two different types of theropod dinosaurs. Some of the skull bones, including the name-bearing specimen, likely belonged to a spinosaurid dinosaur similar to the fish-eating Suchomimus. Meanwhile, other fossils, including jaw bones and teeth, appeared to come from a completely different predator related to the massive carcharodontosaurids.

This discovery highlights the challenges palaeontologists face when working with fragmentary fossils. The Elrhaz Formation where these remains were found has yielded numerous dinosaur species, and it's possible that bones from different animals became mixed together over millions of years. If the spinosaurid interpretation is correct, part of what was called Eocarcharia would have been a fish-eating dinosaur with an elongated snout, whilst the carcharodontosaurid elements suggest a very different type of predator with massive, shark-like teeth.

What made Eocarcharia distinctive?

The original Eocarcharia fossils included distinctive skull bones with prominent ridges above the eye sockets, giving it a somewhat horned appearance. However, since the fossils may represent mixed remains from different species, these features may not all belong to the same animal.

Behaviour

Due to the uncertain nature of the fossil material, specific behaviours are difficult to determine. If some bones belonged to a spinosaurid, that portion would likely have spent time near water hunting fish, whilst any carcharodontosaurid elements would suggest a powerful land predator.

Fun Facts About Eocarcharia

Eocarcharia's name means 'dawn shark', referring to its shark-like teeth and its age as one of the earlier members of its group
The fossils were discovered during the same expedition that found several other important African dinosaurs, including Suchomimus
Eocarcharia's problematic classification demonstrates how new techniques in palaeontology can reveal that what seemed like one dinosaur was actually parts of several
The discovery location in Niger's Ténéré Desert is one of Africa's most productive dinosaur fossil sites
Some of the teeth originally assigned to Eocarcharia are similar to those of the much larger Carcharodontosaurus

Scientific Classification

Phylum	Chordata
Class	Saurischia
Order	Avetheropoda
Family	Carcharodontosauridae
Genus	Eocarcharia

Discovery

Eocarcharia was first described by Paul Sereno and Steve Brusatte in 2008. The original fossils were discovered at Elrhaz Formation, Ténéré Desert, Niger.

Eocarcharia FAQ

What did Eocarcharia eat?

The diet would have depended on which type of dinosaur the bones actually belonged to. If some were from a spinosaurid, that animal would have eaten fish and possibly other aquatic prey. The carcharodontosaurid elements suggest a predator that hunted large land animals.

How big was Eocarcharia?

Based on the original estimates, Eocarcharia was thought to be about 8 metres long, 2.5 metres tall at the hip, and weigh around 2 tonnes. However, since the fossils may represent multiple species, these measurements are uncertain.

When did Eocarcharia live?

The fossils come from Early Cretaceous rocks, dating to approximately 125 to 112 million years ago, during a time when Africa was home to many large predatory dinosaurs.

Where was Eocarcharia found?

The fossils were discovered in the Elrhaz Formation in Niger's Ténéré Desert, western Africa. This area has produced numerous important dinosaur discoveries from the Early Cretaceous period.

How do you pronounce Eocarcharia?

Eocarcharia is pronounced 'EE-oh-kar-CARE-ee-ah', with emphasis on the third syllable.

What does Eocarcharia mean?

Eocarcharia means 'dawn shark', combining the Greek words for dawn (eos) and shark (carcharias), referring to its shark-like teeth and its position as an early member of its group.

How fast could Eocarcharia run?

No specific speed estimates have been made for Eocarcharia, partly due to the uncertainty about which bones actually belong together and what type of dinosaur they represent.

What type of dinosaur was Eocarcharia?

Eocarcharia was originally classified as a theropod dinosaur, but the fossil material may actually represent bones from at least two different theropod species - possibly including both a spinosaurid and a carcharodontosaurid.

Was Eocarcharia related to birds?

As a theropod dinosaur, Eocarcharia (or the species whose bones were assigned to it) would have been part of the dinosaur group that eventually gave rise to modern birds, though it lived much earlier than the first birds.

How many Eocarcharia fossils have been found?

Only one collection of fossil skull bones has been assigned to Eocarcharia, discovered during a 2000 expedition to Niger. The material includes parts of the skull, jaw bones, and teeth, though these may represent more than one species.