Rajasaurus narmadensis is a species of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous, approximately 70 to 65 million years ago, in what is now India. This dinosaur was discovered in the Narmada River Valley region, from which it takes its name. "Rajasaurus" means "king of lizards" and "narmadensis" refers to the geographical location of its discovery.
Rajasaurus was a medium-sized bipedal predator, with an estimated length of about 7 meters and a weight of approximately 3 to 4 tons. This dinosaur had a robust and thick skull, characteristic of abelisaurids, with a prominent bony crest on the top of its head, which could have been used for display or as a sign of dominance among its species. Their jaws were armed with sharp, curved teeth, ideal for tearing the flesh of their prey.
Anatomically, Rajasaurus had a muscular body and powerful hind limbs that gave it great speed and agility, essential characteristics for an active hunter. Their arms, on the other hand, were short and reduced, a common characteristic among abelisaurids. The tail was long and provided balance while running or making quick movements to capture prey.
The discovery of Rajasaurus has been crucial to understanding the diversity of dinosaurs on the Indian subcontinent during the Late Cretaceous. Their existence suggests that abelisaurids were well distributed and adapted to different ecosystems on Gondwana, the supercontinent that included India before continental breakup.
The fossil remains of Rajasaurus were discovered in the 1980s, but it was not until 2003 that the species was formally described. The finds include a nearly complete skull and several postcranial bones, providing valuable information about its anatomy and behavior. These fossils have allowed scientists to reconstruct their appearance and better understand their role in the ecosystem of their time.
The environment in which Rajasaurus lived was varied, with a mix of wooded and open areas offering a wide range of potential prey. As one of the apex predators in its ecosystem, Rajasaurus likely hunted large herbivores and competed with other theropods for food.
Approximate measurements of Rajasaurus:
Rajasaurus was a medium-sized bipedal predator, with an estimated length of about 7 meters and a weight of approximately 3 to 4 tons. This dinosaur had a robust and thick skull, characteristic of abelisaurids, with a prominent bony crest on the top of its head, which could have been used for display or as a sign of dominance among its species. Their jaws were armed with sharp, curved teeth, ideal for tearing the flesh of their prey.
Anatomically, Rajasaurus had a muscular body and powerful hind limbs that gave it great speed and agility, essential characteristics for an active hunter. Their arms, on the other hand, were short and reduced, a common characteristic among abelisaurids. The tail was long and provided balance while running or making quick movements to capture prey.
The discovery of Rajasaurus has been crucial to understanding the diversity of dinosaurs on the Indian subcontinent during the Late Cretaceous. Their existence suggests that abelisaurids were well distributed and adapted to different ecosystems on Gondwana, the supercontinent that included India before continental breakup.
The fossil remains of Rajasaurus were discovered in the 1980s, but it was not until 2003 that the species was formally described. The finds include a nearly complete skull and several postcranial bones, providing valuable information about its anatomy and behavior. These fossils have allowed scientists to reconstruct their appearance and better understand their role in the ecosystem of their time.
The environment in which Rajasaurus lived was varied, with a mix of wooded and open areas offering a wide range of potential prey. As one of the apex predators in its ecosystem, Rajasaurus likely hunted large herbivores and competed with other theropods for food.
Approximate measurements of Rajasaurus:
- Complete 1:60 Scale
- Length 86 mm
- Height 28 mm
- Snout-tail length 112 mm
- Scale 1:35 Assembly kit
- Length 146 mm
- Height 48 mm
- Snout-tail length 190mm
- 1:20 scale Assembly kit
- Length 255 mm
- Height 84 mm
- Snout-tail length 335mm
