Mapusaurus Mapusaurus

Mapusaurus ( ‘earth lizard’) is a genus of giant carcharodontosaurid carnosaurian dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Cenomanian–Turonian ages of the Late Cretaceous. It is known from a bonebed of between seven and nine specimens, excavated from the strata of the Huincul Formation between 1997 and 2001 as part of the Argentinian-Canadian Dinosaur Project. In 2006, Rodolfo Coria and Philip J. Currie scientifically described Mapusaurus. Only one species of Mapusaurus, M. roseae, has been described, named after the rose-colored rocks in which it was discovered and sponsor Rose Letwin.

Mapusaurus was one of the largest carcharodontosaurids. Based on the biggest specimen known from the bonebed, represented by a left femur, it was originally estimated to have reached a maximum body length of 10.2 m and a mass of 3 t.