Concavenator corcovatus, the "humpbacked Cuenca hunter", is a fascinating species of carcharodontosaurid theropod dinosaur that inhabited the region we now know as Cuenca, Spain, about 130-125 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous period.
This medium-sized dinosaur, around 6 meters long, had unique characteristics that make it stand out among its relatives. One of the most notable is the tall, pointed ridge on the front of its back, formed by two exceptionally tall vertebrae. The exact function of this crest remains a mystery, although it has been suggested that it may have been used for thermoregulation or for visual display.
In addition to its distinctive hump, Concavenator also featured a series of small protrusions on its forearms, similar to those found on modern birds and which could have served as anchor points for feather-like structures. This suggests that, like many birds, Concavenator could have had some form of plumage, although there is still some debate among experts about this interpretation.
The Concavenator fossils were discovered at the Las Hoyas paleontological site in 2003, being one of the most complete articulated dinosaur skeletons found in the Iberian Peninsula to date. Its discovery has been fundamental to better understand the evolution and diversity of carcharodontosaurid theropods, showing that this family of predators had spread to Europe from Africa at the beginning of the Cretaceous.
Approximate measurements of the Concavenator:
This medium-sized dinosaur, around 6 meters long, had unique characteristics that make it stand out among its relatives. One of the most notable is the tall, pointed ridge on the front of its back, formed by two exceptionally tall vertebrae. The exact function of this crest remains a mystery, although it has been suggested that it may have been used for thermoregulation or for visual display.
In addition to its distinctive hump, Concavenator also featured a series of small protrusions on its forearms, similar to those found on modern birds and which could have served as anchor points for feather-like structures. This suggests that, like many birds, Concavenator could have had some form of plumage, although there is still some debate among experts about this interpretation.
The Concavenator fossils were discovered at the Las Hoyas paleontological site in 2003, being one of the most complete articulated dinosaur skeletons found in the Iberian Peninsula to date. Its discovery has been fundamental to better understand the evolution and diversity of carcharodontosaurid theropods, showing that this family of predators had spread to Europe from Africa at the beginning of the Cretaceous.
Approximate measurements of the Concavenator:
- Scale 1:35 - Assembly kit
- Length 148mm
- Height 50mm
- Snout-tail length 171mm
- 1:20 Scale - Assembly Kit
- Length 258mm
- Height 88mm
- Snout-tail length 300 mm
