Problem
I. We here in North America are very familiar with Tyrannosaurids. However they are confined to North America and Eastern Asia only. In the Southern Hemisphere (e.g. South America, Africa, Australia) other giant predators belonging to different families were dominant. This pattern is assumed to have come into place after the breakup of Pangea and the resulting isolation of families/species.
i. Research Giganotosaurus carolinii, the largest of the South American predators. Produce an analysis of its physical characteristics. Metric units only please.
ii. Although filling the same role (apex predator) in the Cretaceous ecosystem as our North American Tyrannosaurus rex, the two animals fed on very different prey. Explain what the main prey animals (precise species name - you need two prey minimum) were for Giganotosaurus. How is it physically adapted to hunt this type of prey?
iii. As was mentioned above, Tyrannosaurus rex is the apex predator in the Cretaceous ecosystem of North America. Explain what the main prey animals (precise species name - you need two prey minimum) were for Tyrannosaurus rex. How is it physically adapted to hunt this type of prey?
II. Carnotaurus is a very special dinosaur. It has a very unusual skull. What are the possible reasons for the evolution of the horns on the Carnotaurus skull? Research and discuss.