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Ceratosaurus - Jurassic Dinosaur
This powerful predator was the
largest of the ceratosaurs. Ceratosaurus was a theropod, whose intelligence was
high among the dinosaurs. Its name, meaning "horned lizard",
is derived from the long horn on its snout. Ceratosaurus was a
carnivore, that could kill even large sauropods; it probably hunted in
groups. Grappling with its teeth and claws, it could have tackled them,
and it probably also killed and ate young or sick sauropods; it may also
have been a scavenger. This large, fierce animal resembled its more
advanced rival Allosaurus. But its hand had four well-developed fingers,
unlike Allosaurus, that had only three. Ceratosaurus lived on the fern savannas
and wooded flood plains of western North America. Ceratosaurus walked on
two muscular legs. Ceratosaurus had a pair of bony ridges above its eyes and a
horn on its snout. These were probably used by males when fighting for a
mate. It had a short neck with a very strong spinal column, a massive
tail, a bulky body and heavy bones. Its short arms had four-fingered
hands with sharp claws. It had small, bony plates, which seem to have
run down the middle of the back. Ceratosaurus was an active predator and had
massive jaws with long, sharp teeth. It probably had very good eyesight
because of its large eyes. Male Ceratosaurs were larger and stronger
than the females. The first skeleton was discovered in 1883 at the same
quarry (Colorado, USA) in which the five skeleton of Allosaurus was
excavated. There were found five individuals of Ceratosaurus, including
a nearly complete adult skeleton.
TIME - 156 - 145 MYA,
Late Jurassic period.
RANGE - USA Colorado,
Utah, Wyoming, Africa - Tanzania (Mtwara).
DIET - Carnivore
(meat eater)
SIZE - Up to 20ft
(6m) long.
WEIGHT - 1 US ton. |
