Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 1:55 PMSo, I've heard some theories that megraptorids are possibly tyrannosaurs. Now, before you discount this as crazy, hear me out. They do bear a striking resemblence to some primitive tyrannosaurs(especially Dryptosaurus)...
Australovenator, a typical megaraptorid...
Dryptosaurus, a primitive tyrannosaur...
Remember, not all tyrannosaurs were short armed and two fingered. Yutyrannus, Dryptosaurus, Guanlong, and some others all had long arms with three fingers.
Also know this theory is not my own(though I agree it's possible). I have seen it on Wikipedia and other sites here and there.
Anyways, if this is true, this expands the area tyrannosaurs dominated and their variety(there are basal tyrannosaurs found down south, in particular Australia).
Sci-Fi King25
MemberAllosaurusDec-10-2014 3:08 PMIt's an interesting theory, yet I still believe Megaraptorids were different.
“Banana oil.”- George Takei, Gigantis: The Fire Monster
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 4:27 PMLike I said, it is a theory ;)
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 4:39 PMAlso, if megaraptorids were tyrannosaurs, then Siats would be one of the largest tyrannosaurs. In fact, it might explain how tyrannosaurs took over North America from the allosaurs/carcharodontosaurs of the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous. Allosaurus rules, followed by Acrocanthosaurus, then the tyrannosaurs take over in the form of Siats, with T.rex finally coming next. Just a thought ;)
LeviathanTeratophoneusFerox
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 4:50 PMThat's definetly an eye brow raiser, could be possible.
Let's just see what history has instored.
Fossils however need more correlation tho
“Absence of proof is not proof of absence.”
― M. Crichton, The Lost World
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 4:55 PMIndeed. I don't know specifics, I've just heard the idea thrown around there and, technically, it makes a little sense. Basal tyrannosaurs have been found in the south, so southern tyrannosaurs aren't unheard of. And as I said earlier, many primitive tyrannosaurs have a lot in common with the megaraptorids.
LeviathanTeratophoneusFerox
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 5:00 PMHmm...sounds very interesting, I will conduct further research on this.
I want to see if this adds up to their evolutionary branch. :)
“Absence of proof is not proof of absence.”
― M. Crichton, The Lost World
Carnosaur
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 5:10 PMSomething interesting:
Abstract Megaraptorids are a group of predatory dinosaurs that inhabited Gondwana from Cenomanian to Santonian times (Late Cretaceous). Phylogenetic relationships of megaraptorids have been matter of recent debate, being alternatively interpreted as basal coelurosaurs, carcharodontosaurian allosauroids, megalosauroids, and basal tyrannosauroids. One of the main reasons for such different interpretations is the incomplete nature of most available megaraptorid skeletons and, in particular, the scarce information about their cranial anatomy. Here we describe a partially preserved skeleton of a juvenile specimen of Megaraptor namunhuaiquii that provides substantial new information about the cranial morphology of this Patagonian taxon. The specimen comes from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian–Coniacian) of the Portezuelo Formation, northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. The anatomy of the new specimen bolsters the recently proposed hypothesis that megaraptorids are nested within
Coelurosauria, and possibly within Tyrannosauroidea. The most relevant features that megaraptorans share with tyrannosauroids include several foramina on the premaxillary body, extremely long and straight prenarial process of the premaxilla, incisiviform premaxillary teeth with a D-shaped cross-section, and cranially expanded supratemporal fossae separated from each other by a sharp sagittal median crest on frontals, which was presumably extended caudally above the parietals (not preserved). Information gathered from the present specimen allows to make for the first time a reconstruction of the skull of Megaraptor and hypothesize about evolutionary trends within Tyrannosauroidea.
Damn paper's paywalled, but if anyone thinks they can find it, here's the citation
Juan D. Porfiri, Fernando E. Novas, Jorge O. Calvo, Federico L. Agnolín, Martín D. Ezcurra & Ignacio A. Cerda (2014) Juvenile specimen of Megaraptor (Dinosauria, Theropoda) sheds light about tyrannosauroid radiation.
Anyway, i guess this shook things up quite a bit. Here's what the
megaraptora family tree looks like nowadays
Megaraptora |
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However, we must keep in mind the fact that Tyrannosauroids
aren't Tyrannosaurids.
For example:
Tyrannosauroidea |
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Went off-page there; here's the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosauroidea
Siats would, theoretically, be the largest basal
Tyrannosauroid based on these cladograms, if they're proven to be correct.
Interesting stuff considering the time frame it occupied..
Nature doesn't deceive us; it is we who deceive ourselves.
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusDec-10-2014 5:28 PMNice find there Carnosaur. Yes, tyrannosauroids aren't really closely related to T.rex, but are the earliest members of the group as a whole. Very interesting stuff overall. It seems that tyrannosaurs(being general here) may have been apex predators just about everywhere in the Cretaceous.
Elite Raptor 007
MemberCompsognathusDec-11-2014 1:14 AMi think that it is possible, but don't just look from the outside, this conclusion is not cocreat untill the scientist test the DNA of a megaraptorids and a tyrannosauroid
Something Real
MemberTyrannosaurus RexDec-11-2014 3:12 AMREX FAN 684 - What a fascinating theory! I'd actually never heard of this bit of speculation, however, it does indeed seem to hold water! How very neat! :)
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusDec-14-2014 10:27 AMYeah, T.rex was bigger. Why?
Lord of the Spinosaurs
MemberCompsognathusDec-14-2014 10:44 AMNice post, I personally think that Megaraptorids are Tyrannosauroids. About Siats, I don't agree with that size comparison to T-Rex. In terms of length, Siats was up there with T-Rex at about 40 feet. In terms of weight, T-Rex probably weighed twice as much as Siats.
There is no such thing as a pure predator. A meat-eater is eit
Rex Fan 684
MemberCompsognathusDec-14-2014 10:48 AMWell, technically, that size comparison is of the "juvenile" Siats specimen, so it is accurate as far as length goes. The holotype is 9 meters, but the adult size is probably around 11-12 meters.
Glad you like the post :)