Saurophaganax
Saurophaganax ("lizard-eating master") is a genus of allosaurid dinosaur from the Morrison Formation of Upper Jurassic in Oklahoma. It lived about 151 million years ago).[1]
| Saurophaganax Temporal range: Upper Jurassic
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| Saurophaganax vs Apatosaurus | |
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| Genus: | Saurophaganax Chure, 1995
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Saurophaganax was a very large Morrison allosaurid. The maximum size of S. maximus has been estimated at anywhere from 10.5 metres (34 ft)[2] to 13 m (43 ft) in length,[3] and around 3 tonnes (3.0 long tons; 3.3 short tons) in weight.[2] This means it was perhaps similar in size to Tyrannosaurus or Carcharodontosaurus.
Some paleontologists think it is a species of Allosaurus (Allosaurus maximus). It has also been described as a separate genus.[4] The most recent review of basal tetanurans accepted Saurophaganax as a distinct genus.[5] New possible Saurophaganax material from New Mexico may clear up the status of the genus.
Saurophaganax Media
A drawer of Saurophaganax vertebrae, Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Size comparison of the giant allosaurid theropod dinosaur Saurophaganax. Saurophaganax is known from incomplete remains, but its close relative Allosaurus is known from multiple nearly complete skeletons and was used as a basis for the silhouette, slightly modified to fit the proportions of its larger relative.
Saurophaganax restoration 2019 by Mario Lanzas
Mounted skeleton posed attacking a Diplodocus, New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science.
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References
- ↑ Turner C.E. and Peterson F. 1999. Biostratigraphy of dinosaurs in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the Western Interior, U.S.A. Pp. 77–114 in Gillette D.D. (ed) Vertebrate Paleontology in Utah. Utah Geological Survey Miscellaneous Publication 99-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Paul G.S. 2010. The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs. Princeton University Press p. 112
- ↑ Holtz, Thomas R. Jr. 2011. Dinosaurs: the most complete, up-to-date encyclopedia for dinosaur lovers of all ages, Winter 2010 Appendix.
- ↑ Smith, David K. 1998 (1998). "A morphometric analysis of Allosaurus". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 18 (1): 126–142. doi:10.1080/02724634.1998.10011039.
- ↑ The dinosauria (2nd ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. 2007. ISBN 978-0-520-25408-4. OCLC 154697781.