Alvarezsaurus calvoi

†Alvarezsaurus calvoi was an alvarezsaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous (~85 Ma) of Neuquén, Argentina. A small bipedal carnivore/insectivore about 2m long, it was named by Bonaparte in 1991 — the first alvarezsaurid discovered. Initially mistaken for a bird relative, its proper placement was debated for years. It is the oldest known South American alvarezsaurid and the founding member of the family.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Alvarezsaurus calvoi was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Alvarezsaurus calvoi lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.