Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Oxalaia

Oxalaia

 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/19 August 2018 by Ealdgyth - Talk 15:19, 25 July 2018 (UTC)



Oxalaia is a spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in what is now Brazil during the Late Cretaceous Period, sometime between 93.9 to 100.5 million years ago. The genus name comes from Oxalá, an African deity. Oxalaia only known fossils, a partial snout and upper jaw bone, were found in 1999 in the Alcântara Formation. At an estimated 12-14 metres (39 to 46 feet) in length, it is the largest carnivorous dinosaur discovered in Brazil, the African genus Spinosaurus was its closest relative. Oxalaia bore two replacement teeth in each socket (similarly to sharks) and a very sculptured secondary palate; features which are not known in other theropod or spinosaurid dinosaurs. Its habitat would have been tropical, heavily forested, and surrounded by dry regions. Oxalaia skull and teeth resembled that of modern crocodilians, meaning it may have hunted largely fish. Although spinosaurids are known to have occasionally preyed on other animals such as small dinosaurs and pterosaurs.
 * Most recent similar article(s): Heterodontosaurus (May 12), Dilophosaurus (June 22)
 * Main editors: PaleoGeekSquared
 * Promoted: 22nd of July, 2018
 * Reasons for nomination: It is a dinosaur that belongs to the Spinosauridae, a unique and mysterious family of dinosaurs drawn to the public's eye by its debut in the Jurassic Park series, which has featured Spinosaurus and Baryonyx thus far. I'd like to hopefully educate folks about the lesser known members of the group, as well as celebrate Wikipedia's second FA on a spinosaurid (after Baryonyx) and my first FA nomination.
 * Support as nominator. ▼PσlєοGєєк  ƧɊƲΔƦΣƉ▼  04:13, 23 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Support science article. Praemonitus (talk) 19:24, 23 July 2018 (UTC)