The Shadow of Death

Maip Macrothorax was one of the most deadly carnivores in its region. The name Maip Macrothorax means “Shadow of death with a large chest” which is inspired by a malevolent spirit from Aonikenk mythology. Maip Macrothorax was found in Patagonia and was described in 2022. Maip Macrothorax was from an interesting family called Megaraptorids.

Though, not T-rex sized, Maip Macrothorax was still no pushover being a mind-blowing 9–10 meters (30–33 ft) and 1–2 tons. Maip Macrothorax was like a middle point between a raptor and T-rex because it had a good size but still a lean, fast, hunter with deadly arms and claws capable of shredding through flesh. It also had an extremely wide ribcage- hence Macrothorax.

Unlike T-rex or Giganotosaurus, Maip Macrothorax was not all bite- far from it, actually. Maip Macrothorax had strong shoulder joints for its enormous claws to tear flesh and bone alike. The wider shoulders suggest that Maip Macrothorax had bigger muscle attachment zones and didn’t lose it’s balance while pulling a powerful swing. Now let’s move down to the arms. Maip Macrothorax had arms bigger than the average theropod with much better functioning then other theropods, too. They were easily capable of grabbing prey and holding animals during intense struggles. Maip Macrothorax’s shoulders also help when it’s slashing, using its claws. Which brings us to the most iconic part of Maip Macrothorax — the claws.

Maip Macrothorax used it’s claws to slash prey and inflict devastating wounds. Maip Macrothorax’s claws are estimated to be the largest claws of any dinosaur we have found so far (We haven’t found Maip Macrothorax’s claws YET). Maip Macrothorax had sharp and really large claws but Maip Macrothorax had a longer dominant claw. Maip Macrothorax’s claws were like meat hooks- built for heavy slashing not delicate grabbing.

Maip Macrothorax didn’t just get food from the sky- they had to hunt for it. So, Maip Macrothorax created its own style of hunting. Maip Macrothorax was most probably a pursuit hunter which means it was fast and had a active lifestyle. Maip Macrothorax most likely would have first pursued it’s prey, then used it’s most dangerous weapons- it’s hands, then weaken the prey, then do the finishing blow with it’s jaws.

Sadly, and for some, happily — Maip Macrothorax died in a mass extinction event when astroid hit off its orbit, goes straight for earth and ends the non-avian dinosaurs. Though, dinosaurs aren’t really extinct- birds are dinosaurs. The “Shadow of death” lived only for a short period, (70–66 million years ago) but in that time was one of the most formidable predators this world has ever seen.

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