Cajual Island

{{refimprove|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox islands | name = Cajual Island | native_name =  | native_name_link = | native_name_lang = | sobriquet =  | image_name =Imagem de satélite da Ilha do Cajual.jpg | image_size = | image_caption =Satellite image by CBERS-4. | image_alt = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates =  | etymology = | location = Baía de São Marcos | grid_reference =  | archipelago = | waterbody = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_km2 =  | area_footnotes = | rank = | length_km =  | length_footnotes = | width_km =  | width_footnotes = | coastline_km =  | coastline_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_footnotes = | highest_mount = | country = Brazil | country_admin_divisions_title = | country_admin_divisions = | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = | country_admin_divisions_1 = | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = | country_admin_divisions_2 = | country_capital_type = | country_capital = | country_largest_city_type = | country_largest_city = | country_capital_and_largest_city = | country_largest_city_population = | country_leader_title = | country_leader_name = | country_area_km2 =  | country1 = | country1_admin_divisions_title =Municipality | country1_admin_divisions =Alcântara | country1_admin_divisions_title_1 =State | country1_admin_divisions_1 =Maranhão | country1_capital_type = | country1_capital = | country1_largest_city_type = | country1_largest_city = | country1_capital_and_largest_city = | country1_largest_city_population = | country1_leader_title = | country1_leader_name = | country1_area_km2 =  | demonym = | population = | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_rank = | population_rank_max = | density_km2 = | density_rank = | density_footnotes = | languages = | ethnic_groups = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | website = | additional_info = | footnotes = }}

The island of '''Cajual''' is located in the Baía de São Marcos near to Alcântara, Maranhão, Brazil.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cajual Island|website=Wikimapia.org|url=http://wikimapia.org/20459476/Cajual-Island}}</ref>

The island is an important Brazilian paleontological site, where fossils of animals such as ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Sigilmassasaurus'' were found, and also such plants as conifers and ferns. The finds include the remains of the largest carnivorous dinosaur in Brazil. Traces of the maxillary and nostril of the specimen were found. Known as ''Oxalaia quilombensis'', the species is part of the family of dinosaurs known as Spinosauridae, with elongated skulls and spines along the back.

The presence of fossils also present in Africa proves that the continents were once united, forming Gondwana. The "Lage of the Joker", where the fossils are found, is up to 2 meters below the water at high tide, so it can only be visited for only a few hours a day. Currently, the island of Cajual is home to a small community of ''quilombolas''.

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Landforms of Maranhão Category:Atlantic islands of Brazil