Oldest Megaraptorid Fossils Found in Australia

Recent discoveries of dinosaur fossils along Victoria's coast reveal significant insights into the Cretaceous ecosystem of southeastern Australia, with large megaraptorids and smaller carcharodontosaurs being identified. These findings, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, include the oldest megaraptorid fossils known globally and the first evidence of carcharodontosaurs in Australia. The study suggests a unique predator hierarchy, with megaraptorids as apex predators, unlike South America's larger carcharodontosaurs. Research led by Museums Victoria and Monash University underscores evolutionary ties between Australian and South American dinosaurs due to their historical connection to Antarctica. This study enhances understanding of Gondwanan ecosystems, expanding the theropod fossil record in Australia and providing evidence of faunal interchange. These fossils highlight the distinctiveness of Australia's prehistoric wildlife and its ecological dynamics.