Jurassic
Afrovenator
Afrovenator abakensis
The catalogue presents Afrovenator as a carnivore member of Megalosauridae that lived during the Jurassic, between 170.9–161.5 Ma. Its estimated range is 7.0–9.0 m in length and 1.0–1.5 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Tiourarén Formation, Niger. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Afrovenator, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Sereno et al. (1994).
The PBDB places it in Eustreptospondylinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Megalosauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Megalosauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Bajocian to the Tithonian.
The PBDB catalogues 2 occurrences, with material from the Tiourarén Formation (2). Provenance: Niger.
The catalogue records the holotype as UC OBA 1 and the type locality as “Tiourarén Formation, Niger”.
- UC OBA 1
- Tiourarén Formation, Niger
The catalogue's reference measurements are 7.0–9.0 m in length and 1.0–1.5 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 7.0-9.0 m
- 1.0-1.5 tons
The record gathers 18 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 7.0–9.0 m
- Weight
- 1.0–1.5 t
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 170.9–161.5 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1993
- Described by
- Paul Sereno
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Megalosauridae
- Genus
- Afrovenator
- Species
- A. abakensis
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- UC OBA 1
- Type locality
- Tiourarén Formation, Niger