Revealed: The Mighty Meat Eater that Dominated South America Long Before Dinosaurs

The towering reign of dinosaurs as history’s most fearsome predators is well-acknowledged. However, a staggering 40 million years before their dominion, South America was under the rule of Pampaphoneus biccai, the era’s most formidable carnivore.

Recent findings in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society showcase the marvel of a pristinely conserved fossil, identified as Pampaphoneus biccai. This relic traced back to 265 million years ago, was unearthed in São Gabriel’s countryside, Brazil.

The prized fossil encompasses a full skull accompanied by a selection of skeletal fragments, including ribs and limb bones. This creature, a member of the early therapsid group named dinocephalians, existed right before the Earth’s most catastrophic extinction that wiped out nearly 86% of all known species.

Prior to this extinction event, dinocephalians represented some of the principal large land-dwelling creatures. They ranged from medium to massive in size, with varied diets among species. These creatures bore robust skulls, earning them their name meaning “terrible head” in Greek. While prevalent in places like South Africa and Russia, such beings are seldom found elsewhere, with Pampaphoneus biccai being a unique discovery in Brazil.

Mateus A. Costa Santos, an aspiring paleontologist at the Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), noted, “The fossil was found in middle Permian rocks, in an area where bones are not so common, but always hold pleasant surprises.

“Finding a new Pampaphoneus skull after so long was extremely important for increasing our knowledge about the animal, which was previously difficult to differentiate from its Russian relatives.”

Despite the pandemic’s challenges, the fossil underwent intensive cleaning and research after its extraction by teams from UNIPAMPA and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Professor Stephanie E. Pierce from Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology expressed, “This animal was a gnarly-looking beast, and it must have evoked sheer dread in anything that crossed its path.”

“Its discovery is key to providing a glimpse into the community structure of terrestrial ecosystems just prior to the biggest mass extinction of all time. A spectacular find that demonstrates the global importance of Brazil’s fossil record.”

This discovery marks the second-ever Pampaphoneus skull identification in South America, surpassing its predecessor in size and providing unparalleled morphological insights due to its impeccable conservation.

Pinheiro, from UNIPAMPA, added, “Pampaphoneus played the same ecological role as modern big cats. It was the largest terrestrial predator we know of from the Permian in South America. The animal had large, sharp canine teeth adapted for capturing prey. Its dentition and cranial architecture suggest that its bite was strong enough to chew bones, much like modern-day hyenas.”

While the newfound Pampaphoneus skull impresses at nearly 40cm, researchers hint at another specimen, recognized from a jaw fragment, which might have been even more gigantic.

Preliminary analyses suggest this creature could span almost three meters and tip the scales at 400kg, ruling its territory and preying on smaller beings like the Rastodon and the colossal amphibian Konzhukovia.

With discoveries like the Pampaphoneus, the Pampa region stands testament to the wealth of paleontological treasures waiting to be uncovered.

Image Credit: Felipe Pinheiro