Oxalaia quilombensis

Overview

Oxalaia was a massive spinosaurid dinosaur that lived approximately 100-94 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous in what is now northeastern Brazil. This giant predator may have rivaled the famous Spinosaurus in size, making it one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs ever found in South America!

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Taxonomy & Classification

• Clade: Theropoda
• Family: Spinosauridae
• Diet: Carnivorous (primarily fish)
• Locomotion: Bipedal

Oxalaia was closely related to Spinosaurus from Africa—they may even be the same genus!

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Physical Characteristics

Size & Build

• Length: 12-14 meters (39-46 feet)
• Height: Possibly 4+ meters (13+ feet) at the hip
• Weight: 4,000-7,000 kg (4.4-7.7 tons)
• Skull Fragment: Shows massive size

What We Know

• Long, crocodile-like snout (based on partial remains)
• Conical teeth for catching fish
• Rosette of teeth at the snout tip—spinosaurid trademark!
• Probably had powerful arms with curved claws
• May have had a sail on its back like Spinosaurus

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One of the Biggest!

Giant Among Giants

Oxalaia was enormous:

• One of the largest spinosaurids ever found
• Possibly as big as Spinosaurus itself!
• Among the biggest predators in South American history
• The snout fragment alone shows massive proportions

Size Comparison

Spinosaurid	Length	Location
Spinosaurus	14-18m	Africa
Oxalaia	12-14m	South America
Suchomimus	9-12m	Africa
Baryonyx	7.5-10m	Europe

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A Brazilian Giant

The Alcântara Formation

Oxalaia was found in a special place:

• Maranhão state in northeastern Brazil
• Once the edge of a shallow tropical sea
• Rivers and coastal environments perfect for fishing
• Rich in marine life and other dinosaurs

Ecosystem

Oxalaia shared its world with:

• Large fish and sharks in the coastal waters
• Other dinosaurs in the region
• Pterosaurs flying over the coast
• Crocodilians competing for fish
• Marine reptiles in deeper water

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The Africa-South America Connection

Continental Cousins

Oxalaia's existence proves something amazing:

• South America and Africa were still close in the mid-Cretaceous
• Spinosaurids could spread between continents
• Oxalaia is very similar to African Spinosaurus
• Some scientists think they might be the same genus!
• Shows the power of continental drift in evolution

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What's in a Name?

The Naming Story

• Named in 2011 by Kellner and colleagues
• "Oxalaia" honors an African deity brought to Brazil
• Oxalá is worshipped in Afro-Brazilian religions
• "quilombensis" refers to quilombos (communities of escaped enslaved people)
• Found near Quilombo dos Palmares region
• A name that honors Brazilian cultural heritage

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The Mystery Continues

Limited Fossils

We still have much to learn:

• Known mainly from snout fragments and teeth
• No complete skeleton discovered yet
• Did it have a sail? Probably, but we can't be sure
• Exact size is an estimate
• Relationship to Spinosaurus still debated

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Spinosaurus's South American Cousin?

The Big Question

Scientists debate Oxalaia's identity:

• Is it a separate species or just Spinosaurus in Brazil?
• The fossils are very similar to Spinosaurus
• If they're the same, it means Spinosaurus had a huge range!
• Either way, it shows giant spinosaurids in South America
• More fossils needed to solve the mystery

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Cool Facts

• Oxalaia might be as big as Spinosaurus—the largest meat-eating dinosaur!
• Its name honors Afro-Brazilian culture and history
• Found in rocks that were once a tropical coastline
• Proves spinosaurids spread from Africa to South America
• The snout fragment shows the rosette pattern typical of spinosaurids
• Some scientists think Oxalaia and Spinosaurus are the same animal!
• Brazil was home to giant fish-eating dinosaurs 100 million years ago

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Oxalaia was the giant of Cretaceous Brazil—a spinosaurid so massive it rivals Spinosaurus itself, lurking in the coastal waters of ancient South America!