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Description
After the extinction of the Abelisaurs there by the Early Eocene, Megaraptorids would become the apex predators in Cenozoic South America. Although many genera would remain somewhat gracile, fast running ambush hunters with powerful forelimbs, during the Early Oligocene a distinctive sub-family would split off into a different trajectory: the Pelorosaurines. These were generally larger and more robust animals, with powerful skulls superficially resembling those of the extinct Charcharodontosaurs. By the Early Miocene, some genera would expand to enormous sizes, measuring up to 12-13m long and hunted the similarly massive Titanosaurs and Hadrosaurs that were also thriving at this time. During the Oligocene however, Pelorosaurines were not quite so large, with the apex predator at the Salla Beds fossil site being the 10m Cardenasaurus. In the image above, the Theropod has successfully felled the 11m Saltasauroid Titanosaur Munaypatodon, while in the background two omnivorous Notoraptorians of the genus Yaneraptor endeavour to steal a few mouthfuls of flesh before the big predator catches sight of them. Descended from Troodon-like ancestors that arrived in South America during the Early Paleocene, Notoraptorans diversified during the Eocene, producing forms ranging from small omnivores to large browsing herbivores.

Description
After the extinction of the Abelisaurs there by the Early Eocene, Megaraptorids would become the apex predators in Cenozoic South America. Although many genera would remain somewhat gracile, fast running ambush hunters with powerful forelimbs, during the Early Oligocene a distinctive sub-family would split off into a different trajectory: the Pelorosaurines. These were generally larger and more robust animals, with powerful skulls superficially resembling those of the extinct Charcharodontosaurs. By the Early Miocene, some genera would expand to enormous sizes, measuring up to 12-13m long and hunted the similarly massive Titanosaurs and Hadrosaurs that were also thriving at this time. During the Oligocene however, Pelorosaurines were not quite so large, with the apex predator at the Salla Beds fossil site being the 10m Cardenasaurus. In the image above, the Theropod has successfully felled the 11m Saltasauroid Titanosaur Munaypatodon, while in the background two omnivorous Notoraptorians of the genus Yaneraptor endeavour to steal a few mouthfuls of flesh before the big predator catches sight of them. Descended from Troodon-like ancestors that arrived in South America during the Early Paleocene, Notoraptorans diversified during the Eocene, producing forms ranging from small omnivores to large browsing herbivores.