Species · GBIF taxon 11158517
Veterupristisaurus milneri
Veterupristisaurus milneriVeterupristisaurus milneri represents the earliest recognized member of the carcharodontosaurid lineage, prowling the coastal floodplains of Late Jurassic East Africa. Distinguished by massive, heavily reinforced caudal vertebrae that supported a stiffened balancing tail, this apex theropod possessed serrated blade-like teeth adapted for slicing through tough dinosaur hides. It shared its prehistoric ecosystem with monumental sauropods and armored stegosaurs, playing a dominant predatory role alongside other large carnivores in the ancient Tendaguru environment.
CarnivorousPrehistoric
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Giraffatitan brancai
- Kentrosaurus aethiopicus
- Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki
ThreatsEnvironmental turnover and prehistoric extinction events
HabitatsCoastal plains, seasonal floodplains, and open woodlands
Life spanEstimated 25–35 years
Classification
- FamilyCarcharodontosauridae
- SpeciesVeterupristisaurus milneri
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from Late Jurassic fossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Museum Specimens: Examine fossil casts and described caudal vertebrae in institutional collections such as the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.
- Geological Context: Study geological literature on the Tendaguru Formation to understand the coastal lagoon ecosystem in which it lived.
Prey LoKiLeCh / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Prey (c) Etemenanki3, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor Jens Lallensack / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Family Matthew Deery / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Image unavailableSame Family
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