Abelisaurids

Abelisaurids are a diverse group of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs within the larger ceratosaurian lineage. They flourished in the Cretaceous period, primarily on the southern supercontinent Gondwana, and include some of the best-known predatory dinosaurs from Patagonia, Madagascar, and Africa. The clade is one of the defining groups of abelisaurids and is distinguished by distinctive skull and forelimb features that set them apart from other theropods of their time.

The fossil record shows Abelisauridae widespread across Gondwanan landmasses, with remains found in South America, Africa, Madagascar, and India. They appear from the Early to Late Cretaceous and diversified in various ecological contexts, ranging from medium-sized hunters to larger apex predators in some ecosystems. Their distribution and timing reflect the broader biogeographic patterns of Gondwanan dinosaur evolution.

Anatomically, abelisaurids are known for their short, deep skulls and often highly ornamented cranial bones. A hallmark is their markedly reduced forelimbs, with some species exhibiting extremely small arms and limited hand structure, in contrast to their robust hind limbs. They generally possessed strong jaw muscles and laterally compressed teeth suited to slicing meat. The variation within the group includes differences in skull crests, ornamentation, and proportions, corresponding to differing feeding strategies and ecological niches.

Notable members include Carnotaurus sastrei from South America, recognized for its extremely short forelimbs, and Majungasaurus crenatus from Madagascar, famed for its well-preserved skull and distinctive dentition. Other early and mid-Cretaceous forms from Africa and South America further illustrate the diversity of this clade. Abelisaurids thus represent a key component of Cretaceous predatory dinosaur communities in southern landmasses.