DINOWORLD: MAJUNGASAURUS

Beware these guys! Majungasaurus may look silly compared to other apex predators in the park, but it is still a lethal hunter, with bony armor and a powerful bite!

The apex a predator of Late Cretaceous Madagascar, Majungasaurus was an Abelisaurid,  a family of carnosaurs that was extremely successful in Maastritchian Gondwana. A family known for such strange predators as Carnotaurus and Rugops, Abelisaurs are well-known for their stocky jaws, bizarre bony head crests, short legs, and arms so rudimentary they put they put the Tyrannosaurids to shame. They are also the only theropods confirmed to be completely scaly (really just undeveloped feather buds), their backs covered in bony scutes for protection against other abelisaurs. Their bulky frame and stocky jaws were perfect for violent, brutal tussling, which they used to take down animals much bigger than themselves.

Majungasaurus was strange even for abelisaurs. With short legs and a bizarre, knobby skull, scientists were stumped when they discovered its fossils. Though many ideas were introduced to why, one of the better-supported theories is that Majungasaurus was an ambush predator, laying low into the bushes and using its knobby body to camouflage itself as a fallen log. This behavior would also explain why Abelisaurids lost their intugement in the first place: it made for better camouflage.

Majungasaurus usually hunted large herbivores, such as the sauropod Rapetosaurus. However, research on the bite marks of Majungasaurus fossils also revealed the Abelisaurs likely ate each other, as well.

Today, you can see Majungasaurus at the DINOSAURS OF MADAGASCAR, on the OCEAN OF TIME. You can now see these bizarre cannibal theropods up close!

WARNING: DO NOT HARASS THE DINOSAURS OR ATTEMPT TO "PRVOKE" THEM INTO MOVING, THEY ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE! PROTECTIVE BARRIERS AROUND PADDOCK MAY NOT BE INSUFFICIENT DURING A RAMPAGE! DINOWORLD AMD ITS CREATURES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM FAILURE TO COMPLY.

HISTORY

One of the few scaly theropod families, Church knew the visitors were going to take to Majungasaurus immediately. Though his work had indeed roved to public feathered dinosaurs could be cool, a confirmed scaly one definitely wouldn't hurt business. The challenge would be to make it.

The base was a Dilophosaur, with various genes spliced in from Allosaurs. Tweaking the growth genes, they altered the animal to have a stunted, compact snout, short legs, and rudimentary arms. Genes that induced crest growth in birds was heavily modified to grow into the bony, knobby skull Majungasaurus was known for. The feathering genes were shut off entirely, reducing the integument into scales. Genes from caimans were spliced in to grow the creature's protective osteoderms. Genes from chameleons were studied so Dinoworld scientists could alter the pigment genes , allowing the dinosaurs to change color to a certain degree.  This had no edvidence, but was certainly possible, so Church added it in anyway. This trait would be spread to the rest of Dinoworld's Abelisaurs.

Though put at first into the upcoming attractions exhibit, where it got a roar of approval, it was quickly moved into its habitat in the Sea of Time. Majungasaurus is still  a widely popular attraction, especially to the older generation of dinosaur fans.

Meanwhile, Dinoworld marched on.....

Photos by whoever owns them.

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