Rugops

Filed under Cretaceous dinosaurs · Types of Dinosaurs editorial team

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Theropoda · Infraorder: Abelisauridae · Family: Abelisauridae

Rugops was a carnivorous dinosaur that roamed what is now Niger during the Late Cretaceous period. Its name, meaning "wrinkle face," derives from the distinctive grooves and pits that marked the surface of its skull. These facial features suggest that the dinosaur's head may have supported tough skin or some form of covering, giving it an unusual appearance compared to many other theropods.

This abelisaurid predator measured approximately 20 feet in length, placing it among the medium-sized carnivores of its time. Although much remains unknown about Rugops—including its exact posture and full body proportions—paleontologists have learned important details from its fossilized skull. The structure of its jaws was not particularly powerful, leading researchers to hypothesize that Rugops may have been an opportunistic feeder, scavenging as well as hunting for its food.

Rugops holds significance in paleontological understanding as an African abelisaur, demonstrating that these distinctive predators were distributed far more widely across ancient continents than earlier fossil evidence had suggested. The discovery of Rugops in Africa expanded knowledge of the abelisaurid family, which was previously known primarily from Southern Hemisphere specimens, showing the geographic reach of these unusual theropods during the Cretaceous.

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Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the Abelisauridae family.