#megaraptora

As Winter ended in the Australian-Antarctic Rift Valley, the ice and frost melted away. What were once frozen riverbanks now melted and flooded, forming pools in the volcanic soil and sands.

These temporary, shallow bodies of water created opportunity for several animals. Instead of risking going close to rivers that would sweep them away and land them in a variety of dangers, animals could drink at a safe distance.

Some even took the chance to find food. Unenlagiines picked out small fish that became stranded in the pools, stabbing them with their sickle claws. The carcass of a baby plesiosaur even washed into one, prompting two noasaurs to fight over it.

The most numerous dinosaurs were the various ornithopod species like Galleonosaurus and Qantassaurus coming to the river bank. All bipedal with a mix of feathers and scales, they congregated in groups of mixed species as they drank fresh water and ate any plants that washed ashore. Even the largest of these species didn’t grow very big, barely exceeding 3 metres long.

One of these smaller species attending the riverbank had a mother and father with a group of juveniles. One of them, Noddy, observed their surroundings. As their kin ate, drank, and bathed in the pools, their attention wandered elsewhere. They climbed up a hill with some foliage, and found a burrow.

Noddy looked inside, and saw a monotreme, Teinolophos, with her puggles. After observing the mammals, Noddy walked away. They soon stopped however, turning back once they heard digging. A sub-adult noasaur also found the burrow, and was trying to root out the monotremes. It had no luck however, as its attempts to burrow into the muddy ground only left its feathers and scales dirty. It wasn’t worth the effort.

Noddy wandered back to its family, which continued to look around the shallows, digging up seeds and foliage that washed ashore. All seemed peaceful until a flock of birds flew over the other dinosaurs. Some of the larger ornithopods took a look, and called out to their companions as a group of four megaraptorids appeared. The apex predators of the Rift Valley.

Dinosaurs of all species darted in various directions as the large theropods took their chance to snatch up prey, using their jaws as well as hands that bore large claws. Noddy’s family was soon in the sights of one of the predators, prompting them to rush away with their siblings and parents.

One of the megaraptorids was bold enough to run directly into Noddy’s family. Noddy ended up very close to it, but instead of becoming food, it was knocked to the side by one of the Megaraptorid’s hand claws as it grabbed one of their siblings, sinking the same large claws into it. The theropod opened its jaws and swallowed its feathery, scaly prize as it was still breathing.

Noddy couldn’t get up as they watched their family rush into the river. The most they could do was climb into a bush, hiding from the megaraptorid onslaught. The ornithopods were making a bold move to escape predators on land, but that also risked attracting predators in the river.

Noddy’s family struggled to make it to the other side of the river as the currents flowed. However, they were small enough to make it onto some rafts of vegetation. Climbing on, the debris could barely hold the family. Some of Noddy’s siblings got a peek underwater, spotting a Koolasuchus swimming under them.

The large temnospondyl wasn’t their real concern however. From even further below the Koolasuchus, an even larger shape emerged, opening its jaws and biting into the temnospondyl. The amphibian was decently sized, but it was soft and easy prey for the pliosaur. The 4-metre-long predator thrashed with its catch, crushing its bones and letting the blood drain out. The carnage caused Noddy’s family to be thrown off their raft, into the river’s flow.

Back on the riverbank, Noddy watched for any signs of their family, but it was no use. They were on their own.

Retreating into the forests, still recovering from the megaraptorid attack, the ornithopod looked for places to hide in. Dusk soon approached, and Noddy needed to find somewhere safe. They were familiar with the darkness, having lived through a Winter already, but they were never alone.

Noddy searched, seeing small mammals like Ausktribosphenos run into the undergrowth or up trees. Noddy eventually found a reasonably sized den, and approached it. Two ankylosaurs building a nest.

Noddy approached the nest, even picking up leaves and twigs to offer to the ankylosaurs. The ankylosaurs at the very least didn’t react with hostility as Noddy tested to see if they would let them in.

The rustling of some leaves soon revealed the presence of a carcharodontosaur. A smaller predator than the megaraptorids, closer in size to some of the larger ornithopods. Noddy called to the ankylosaurs to warn them of the approaching threat. The carcharodontosaur rushed towards Noddy, only to meet the den. The two ankylosaurs banded together to form a wall, protecting their nest.

The carcharodontosaur observed two separate groupings of eggs formed into the nest, seeing more potential food. However, both Noddy and the eggs were in a den that looked too tricky to dig a way around, as two ankylosaur mothers with their rough looking osteoderms were not going to let their future offspring become food.

MEGARAPTOR NAMUNHUAIQUII

LADRÓN GIGANTE CON LANZA EN EL PIE

La mano distintiva le da nombre a un grupo de dinosaurios similares: Megaraptora. Aún no se sabe con certeza dentro de qué rama de los terópodos se halla.

La característica más notable era una garra en el dedo 1 de la mano en forma de hoz de 42 centímetros de largo. Estas grandes garras servirían para atrapar a sus presas en carrera y quizás golpéandolas como un mazo, desestabilizando a las víctimas con un golpe seco.

En Argentina se encontraron otras especies del mismo grupo: Murusraptor, Aerosteon, Orkoraptor y el más recientemente descubierto Maip. No hay concenso en si estaba o no cubierto de plumas.

Aquí se lo representa como una cría de pocos meses de edad, manteniendo el plumón sólo en el lomo, quizás habiendo nacido completamente emplumado como las aves actuales. Como muchos animales con manos grandes, como los osos actuales, está aprendiendo a manejarlas.

HABITÓ: Neuquén (Patagonia Argentina)

HACE: 98 millones de años (Cretácico)

ES UN: Terópodo, Megaraptora

MEDÍA: 8 m de largo x 2.5 m de altura (adulto)

PESABA: 1 tonelada (adulto)

Orkoraptor burkei

Reference: Christopher Chavez (https://www.artstation.com/khriskath)