By: Kristin Turner
Published: Feb 14, 2008
Updated: Jul 2, 2009
Scientists at the University of Chicago made the huge fossil discovery along the edge of a Nigerian desert. The two dinosaurs were found originally found during an expedition in 2000.
Researchers said the dinosaurs were pretty similar in that they both ate meat.
The first dinosaur discovered was Kryptos palaios, with a short-snout, long tail and very short arms.
The second dinosaur was Eocarcharia dinops, a much larger dinosaur, containing very strong legs as well as sharp teeth. Researchers believe he was likely one of the toughest predators and grew up to 40 feet in adulthood.
Eocarcharia looks similar to the Tyrannosaurus and has a narrow bird-like scull with dagger-like teeth designed for going through flesh and bone.
"They show us that very early on and for probably at least 20 or 30 million years meat eating was divided up in a way that we don't have on the northern continent," said lead author Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago.
They lived some 110 million years ago in the African continent.
Many scientists are shocked as they find it extraordinary that such large predators would live in the surrounding area.
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