Dilophosaurus
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Dilophosaurus is a genus of large carnivorous theropod, averaging around 3m in length and 300kg in weight. It gets its name – which translates to ‘two-crested lizard’ - from the distinctive crests that sit atop its head, which are used to attract mates for reproduction. Dilophosaurus’ slender build means it can move at high speeds, while its powerful jaw allows it to keep hold of prey as it struggles to escape.
Discovery
The first Dilophosaurus fossils were discovered by American paleontologist Charles L. Camp in Arizona in 1940. For many years the genus was misclassified as a Megalosaurus - it wasn’t until 1970 that fellow dinosaur expert Samuel P. Welles declared it a new genus after realizing remains that had been wrongly described as cheek bones were in fact crests – a feature that had not previously been found in a theropod.
Palaeoecology
Dilophosaurus inhabited the western states of North America during the Early Jurassic period, around 190m years ago. As one of the biggest carnivores of its environment, Dilophosaurus is likely to have preyed on large herbivores – although it may also have eaten fish and small reptiles.
Information
- Era
- Early Jurassic
- Family
- Dilophosauridae
- Genus
- Dilophosaurus
- Height
- 1.6M
- Length
- 3M
- Weight
- 300Kg
- Diet
- Carnivore, Live Prey
- Egg batch size
- 3 - 6
