Gnathovorax

Gnathovorax was an impressive apex predator from the Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Represented by an exquisite, almost completely articulated skeleton, it provides an unrivalled look at the anatomy of the enigmatic herrerasaurids. Reaching roughly three metres in length and weighing around seventy kilograms, Gnathovorax possessed a substantial skull filled with recurved, knife-like teeth and powerful forelimbs equipped with sharp raptorial claws. CT scanning of its exceptionally preserved braincase revealed an enlarged floccular lobe, an inner-ear structure associated with agile motor control and sophisticated gaze stabilisation. This indicates that Gnathovorax was an active, visually oriented hunter capable of tracking fast-moving prey. Living alongside early sauropodomorphs and rhynchosaurs, it reigned as one of the dominant predatory dinosaurs of the Carnian stage.

It is based on one of the most complete and pristine skeletons of any early dinosaur ever found.

Where and when

Gnathovorax lived in the Late Triassic, from 233.2 to 230 million years ago (Carnian age). Its remains come from Brazil, in the Santa Maria Formation.

The numbers

Length 2.9 m (estimates run from 2.8 to 3 m). Mass about 69 kg. Hip height about 0.9 m. That is 1.7 human-lengths, or 0.26 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from near-complete skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

Compare Gnathovorax with a bus Place on the timeline