Rugops was a genus of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur that inhabited Africa approximately 95 million years ago. In 2000, a skull of Rugops was discovered in Nigeria that was a crucial breakthrough in understanding theropod evolution in that area. It was the first abelisaurid dinosaur found in Africa. The name means \"wrinkled face\" and refers to its numerous impressions in the skull bone from large blood vessels that once ran across the surface of the bone, leaving a wrinkled appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a large carnivore, much larger than Spinosaurus, Sarcosuchus and Carcharodontosaurus. It had armor draped over its face, and other bones had many blood vessels that made Dr. Paul Sereno come to a conclusion. Perhaps the extra vessels provide additional oxygenated blood to special facial display features that so far had not been seen in any other theropod. According to Dr. Paul Sereno, the head was not designed for fighting or bone crushing based on the skull discovered. It had two rows of seven holes each, of unknown purpose, which means it had some crest or horns anchored to it. It had short arms that were probably useless in fighting. It was accused of being a scavenger, but in the case of Rugops, this may be an accurate assumption. The teeth appear to be much weaker than those of its other abelisaurid siblings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rugops was estimated to reach 7 to 9.1 m in length and 2.5 m in height at the hip just above the head of an adult male and weighed 410 to 750 kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n