Irritator challengeri

† Irritator challengeri — an Early Cretaceous spinosaurid theropod from the Santana Formation, Brazil. Large piscivore-carnivore (~8 m long); named 'challenger' because its skull was heavily restored before study, frustrating (irritating) paleontologists. One of few spinosaurids from South America.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Irritator challengeri 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 Early Mesozoic Era

Irritator challengeri lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145.0 to 100.5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.