What is ostafrikosaurus?

Ostafrikosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, over 120 million years ago, in what is now Tanzania. The name Ostafrikosaurus means "East African lizard" and it is believed to be a member of the family Spinosauridae.

The dinosaur was first described in 2010, based on a partial skeleton that included a skull, lower jaw, vertebrae, ribs, and limb bones. It is estimated to have been around 7–8 meters long and weighed between 1-2 tons.

Ostafrikosaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur, with long, narrow jaws filled with sharp teeth that were ideal for catching and tearing apart prey. Its long and slender arms were equipped with large, curved claws that were likely used to grab and hold onto prey.

Despite its relatively large size, Ostafrikosaurus was still a small predator compared to some of the other giant theropods that lived during the same time period. It likely hunted smaller dinosaurs, fish, and other aquatic creatures that lived in the rivers and lakes of the Early Cretaceous period.

Overall, Ostafrikosaurus is a relatively poorly known dinosaur, but it is an important discovery that helps to shed light on the diversity of dinosaurs that lived in Africa during the Early Cretaceous period.