Fossils of 'shark-toothed' carnivorous dinosaur found in Thailand

By Will Dunham

 

A reconstruction of the skull of the large meat-eating dinosaur Siamraptor suwati based on fossils unearthed in Thailand is seen in this image released on October 9, 2019. Soki Hattori and Duangsuda Chokchaloemwong/Handout via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fossils of a large carnivorous dinosaur that was a top predator about 115 million years ago have been unearthed in Thailand -- a brute that was among the early members of an impressive group of flesh-ripping dinosaurs known for their shark-like teeth.

 

Scientists on Wednesday said the dinosaur, named Siamraptor suwati, was more than 26-foot-long (9 meters) long and weighed at least 3.5 tons.

 

Siamraptor, the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever discovered in Thailand, lived during the Cretaceous Period in an environment centered on a meandering river system and preyed on plant-eating dinosaurs, the researchers said.

 

Paleontologist Duangsuda Chokchaloemwong of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University and Khorat Fossil Museum in Thailand said partial skeletons of four Siamraptor individuals were discovered in Korat, Thailand. The fossils include parts of the skull, backbone, limbs, hips and teeth.

 

"Siamraptor is the largest predator in the environment and thus could be an apex predator at that point in time," said paleontologist Soki Hattori of Fukui Prefectural University and Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Japan.

 

Siamraptor, meaning "robber from Thailand," sheds light on the early evolutionary history of a dinosaur group known as carcharodontosaurs.

 

The group's best-known member is Carcharodontosaurus - meaning "shark-toothed lizard" - a dinosaur that was among largest carnivores ever on Earth, living about 90 million years ago in northern Africa and reaching about 45 feet (13.5 meters) in length. The teeth of dinosaurs in this group boasted traits resembling those of a shark, enabling efficient flesh-tearing.

 

"The teeth of carcharodontosaurs, including Carcharodontosaurus, exhibit characteristic undulations of the surface along the margin of the thin, blade-like 'shark-tooth.' This feature is also observed in Siamraptor's teeth," Hattori added.

 

The earliest carcharodontosaurs are known from even-older fossils from Africa and Europe, leaving the researchers surprised to find an early member of the group in Southeast Asia.

 

The carcharodontosaurs are part of a larger dinosaur assemblage called theropods that encompasses all the carnivorous dinosaurs including the likes of Tyrannosaurus rex, which lived in North America at the end of the age of dinosaurs some 66 million years ago, as well as birds.

 

The carcharodontosaurs differed from some of the more heavily built theropods like Tyrannosaurus.

 

"They have a lightly constructed, narrow skull with horns or crests on their skull roof, and relatively robust forelimbs with three fingers," Hattori said.

 

The study, part of a research collaboration called the Japan-Thailand Dinosaur Project, was published in the journal PLOS One.

 

(Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Sandra Maler)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-10

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One of them is still alive; my mother-in-law! 

 

Seriously, this was a big beast. I collect fossils and always admire what they were.

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

'shark-toothed' carnivorous dinosaur found in Thailand

 

i thought it was another story about the Thai cabinet.

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fossils of a large carnivorous dinosaur that was a top predator about 115 million years ago have been unearthed in Thailand -- a brute that was among the early members of an impressive group of flesh-ripping dinosaurs known for their shark-like teeth.

 

Amazingly enough...decedents of this primitive beast still lurk in the dark, putrid  swamps of 21st century Thailand.

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 20196 yr by Hayduke

I often wonder if anyone realy gives a rats ass about such info.Relate this to yer Mates Lunchtime, and they go to sleep.!.????[emoji481]


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3 hours ago, webfact said:

Fossils of 'shark-toothed' carnivorous dinosaur found in Thailand

Where? In parliament?

 

Is it perhaps related to Prawitosaurus horologiae? Or Prayutharaptor singasongus? Thammanatus drugtrafficus?

Edited October 10, 20196 yr by Misterwhisper

I liked this , I , many years ago collected fossils .  So there .

I liked this , I , many years ago collected fossils .  So there .

Bet yer After Dinner Speeches are captivating .????????


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Quote

I often wonder if anyone realy gives a rats ass about such info.Relate this to yer Mates Lunchtime, and they go to sleep.!

I often wonder how ignorant people such as "yer mate" above manage in their lives.

He obviously gave a "rat's ass" as he took the trouble to read and post - maybe that irony is beyond him?

Fossil collecting seems quite a hobby among young Thai women too !

9 hours ago, webfact said:

leaving the researchers surprised to find an early member of the group in Southeast Asia

Early sex-touristsaur .. 

 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Siamraptor, meaning "robber from Thailand,"

Hahaha .. nice one .. Good nickname for my Thai bird that .. 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Fossils of 'shark-toothed' carnivorous dinosaur found in Thailand

They were delicious 

 

9 hours ago, Hayduke said:

 

Amazingly enough...decedents of this primitive beast still lurk in the dark, putrid  swamps of 21st century Thailand.

 

 

 

Is this the modern day version of " Siam Raptor "? Your guess is a good as mine 

" Siam Raptor " ... A fitting name ( Why is it not Thailand Raptor " )

2 hours ago, PaoloR said:

I often wonder how ignorant people such as "yer mate" above manage in their lives.

He obviously gave a "rat's ass" as he took the trouble to read and post - maybe that irony is beyond him?

You cannot help some people.

Enjoy fossil hunting/collecting myself.  Went on a dig in Montana, USA once... excavated a meter long femur!  Wonderful stuff!  After dinner speeches are fascinating, to like-minded people.

6 hours ago, sirineou said:

They were delicious 

 

Don't tell that the Vegans

I don't won't to open a new topic but is it  nice to talk to other

posters without being abused, OK 123 here we go but I am save for now 

because it is the time when all the posters sleep ????

Have a nice day every body

You cannot help some people.

Indeed , some Folks enjoy Synchronized Swiming, along with bits of dead animals.????????


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On 10/10/2019 at 7:23 AM, webfact said:

Siamraptor, meaning "robber from Thailand," sheds light on the early evolutionary history of a dinosaur group known as carcharodontosaurs.

There's a few living specimens still walking around in high places.... who said Thais didn't evolve?

On 10/10/2019 at 7:38 AM, mikebell said:

i thought it was another story about the Thai cabinet.

I thought it was a story about Thai immigration. 

18 hours ago, sirineou said:

They were delicious 

 

Taste like chicken?

On 10/10/2019 at 10:37 AM, Misterwhisper said:

Where? In parliament?

 

Is it perhaps related to Prawitosaurus horologiae? Or Prayutharaptor singasongus? Thammanatus drugtrafficus?

No 1 is missing 'Multis' I think.

On 10/10/2019 at 12:13 PM, White Christmas13 said:

Don't tell that the Vegans

Didn't the Siamraptor eat all the vegans?