Key Information
Afrovenator
| Species | 1 species |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Length | 25 ft |
| Height | 6 ft |
| Weight | Up to 2,000 lb |
| Timescale | Middle to Late Jurassic |
| Classification | Saurischia > Theropoda > Megalosauridae |
Learning Point
- Afrovenator, the “African Hunter” that ruled the Sahara during the Jurassic period. While many people focus on the T. rex, this 26-foot-long predator was built for speed rather than just brute force. With its long legs and slim, “gracile” frame, it was a terrifyingly fast sprinter that used its unusually long arms and grasping claws to snag prey. Found in Niger in 1993, it remains one of the most complete meat-eating dinosaur skeletons ever discovered in Africa, proving that the ancient world was full of lethal, specialized hunters long before the “King” arrived.
Project
- Draw a picture of Afrovenator looking for food.
- Overview
- X-Ray
Location
| Confirmed | Niger |
Fun Facts
- The name Afrovenator means “African hunter”.
- It was built much slimmer than a T. rex. Because it was “gracile” (light and lean) and had long legs, it was likely one of the fastest sprinters of its time.
- It is one of the most complete meat-eating dinosaur skeletons ever found in Africa. Usually, we only find a few teeth or a single bone, but for this guy, we have almost the whole thing!
- It lived during the Middle Jurassic period. This means it was roaming around Africa nearly 100 million years before the T. rex even existed!
Past Lessons
| 222 | February 9, 2026 | (North America) |