Oxalaia and Spinosaurus: Tyrants of the Cretaceous

Introduction

• 100 million years ago: Late Cretaceous period began.
• Spinosaurus: Largest African predator and second biggest theropod, famous for its giant size and enormous sail.
• Oxalaia: Nearly equal in size and power to Spinosaurus, discovered in 2011 in Northern Brazil's Alcantara Formation.

Discovery of Oxalaia

• 2011 Discovery: First fossils (snout bones) linked to Oxalaia unearthed in Northern Brazil.
• Named Oxalaia quilombensis, referencing African deity Obatala.
• Fossils indicated Oxalaia shared characteristics with other spinosaurids.

Size and Characteristics

• Size: Estimated 12-14 meters (39-46 feet) in length, 5-7 tons in weight.
• Skull: Bigger than Acrocanthosaurus, 1.35 meters (4.4 feet) long, conical teeth in rosette pattern.
• Large claws: Especially long first digit, well-designed for fishing.
• Diet: Likely piscivorous (fish-eating), but could prey on small-medium terrestrial animals.
• Habitat Adaptations: Nostrils positioned high on the snout for partial submersion in water.

Habitat and Lifestyle

• Environment: Inhabited freshwater and brackish water areas alongside tropical forests in late Cretaceous Brazil.
• Coexistence: Lived with various other dinosaurs (e.g., Limaysaurus, Malawisaurus) and non-dinos (e.g., turtles, snakes).
• Apex Predator: Dominated its environment, likely an opportunistic carnivore.

Extinction

• Extinction Event: Vanished around 93.9 million years ago, coinciding with the decline of Spinosaurus.
• Possible causes include rising sea levels destroying habitats or long-standing droughts depleting food and freshwater sources.

Conclusion

• Legacy: Despite its fame, Oxalaia hasn't received as much attention as Spinosaurus in popular media.

Additional Resources

• For further information on similar topics, check out other videos on related prehistoric creatures, such as the older relative of T-Rex.