🍖 Discovery of a hypercarnivorous predator that ate dinosaurs

Some 70 million years ago, a fearsome creature roamed Patagonia. Its preferred prey were likely dinosaurs.

Paleontologists uncovered an exceptionally preserved fossil in southern Argentina in 2020. This predator, named Kostensuchus atrox, measured approximately 11.5 feet long (3.5 meters) and weighed nearly 550 pounds (250 kilograms). Its anatomy reveals adaptations for hunting, with a broad snout and powerful forelimbs.


This reptile belonged to the peirosaurid crocodyliforms, an extinct group related to modern alligators and crocodiles. Its diet was hypercarnivorous, consisting of more than 70% meat. It lived during the Cretaceous, a geological period marked by great biodiversity in South America.


Argentinian paleontologist Fernando Novas emphasizes that terrestrial crocodilians were abundant and diverse at that time. They coexisted with dinosaurs, some actively hunting them. These predators played an important role in the vanished ecosystems of ancient Gondwana.

The discovery took place in the Chorrillo rock formation, where other important fossils have been found. For example, Maip macrothorax, a large carnivorous dinosaur, was recently identified in the same region.

Despite being smaller than some predatory dinosaurs, K. atrox could attack small to medium-sized prey. Its physical characteristics, such as its imposing teeth, made it an effective hunter.

What is a hypercarnivore?

A hypercarnivore is an animal whose diet consists of more than 70% meat. Unlike omnivores or herbivores, these species depend almost exclusively on hunting and predation to survive.

This dietary mode requires specific adaptations, such as sharp teeth and a short digestive system. Modern hypercarnivores include lions and wolves, but they were more diverse in the past.

In ancient ecosystems, hypercarnivores played a role as population regulators. Their presence influenced the evolution of other species, driving defensive developments or improved escape abilities.