Allosaurus

Family

terópodos

Era

Late Jurassic, 150 million years ago

Where he lived?

Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming; also Europe (Portugal) and Africa.

Weight

2.000Kg

Height

Length

11m

Its name means strange lizard. It was the largest predator in North America in the Jurassic (before the Tyrannosaurus Rex arrived in the Cretaceous). It was capable of opening its jaws wide enough to take large bites with all of its teeth, thereby tearing out huge morsels of meat and it may have used the three large claws on its hands to grip the flank of its prey

Learn more about Allosaurus

Meet the impressive Allosaurus. This prehistoric predator not only dominated its era, but has also captured our imagination in film and literature.

Allosaurus has as its scientific name Allosaurus fragilis which means "strange lizard" referring to its unique spine. Allosaurus was a prominent member of the theropod family. This group includes some of the best known and most feared predators of the Mesozoic era.

Allosaurus was first discovered in the United States and lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago, a period filled with giants and natural wonders.

With a height of up to 5 meters and a length that could exceed 11 meters, the Allosaurus was a true giant. Its weight, reaching 2 tons, made it a formidable hunter and an impressive sight.

What did Allosaurus eat?

It is known that this dinosaur was carnivorous and fed on other dinosaurs or even carrion, although not much more is known about how they hunted, some paleontologists believe that they did it in groups, similar to modern wolves. In addition, this dinosaur had binocular vision, which allowed it to better calculate the distance to its prey.

The Allosaurus inhabited what we know today as North America, in regions that varied from dense forests to wide plains, which facilitated the hunting of its prey. This animal was capable of reaching speeds of up to 34 km/h, which made it a formidable hunter.

Allosaurus Characteristics

This dinosaur was characterized by its large skull full of sharp teeth, powerful claws and a muscular tail that helped it maintain balance and provided agility.

Allosaurus fossils, especially its distinctive skeleton, have provided a wealth of information about its anatomy and behavior. These remains have been a treasure trove for paleontologists.

The first Allosaurus fossil was found in Colorado in 1877. This specimen was named Marsh, although only a few fragments remained.

A more complete Allosaurus was found in 1879, although it was not examined until 1903 after the death of the researcher who found the remains.

In 1991 a team of researchers from the University of Wyoming (United States) found a fossil of this dinosaur, which was practically intact. In 1996, this same team discovered 'Big Al Two', the best preserved Allosaurus skeleton to date.

Allosaurus is not only a fascinating dinosaur for its size and power, but also for its impact on our culture and understanding of prehistory. This Jurassic giant remains a subject of study and inspiration for scientists and hobbyists alike.

If you have been left wanting to learn more about this theropod we have good news for you, due to its great importance in the Jurassic era we have seen it appear in different series and movies, including "Jurassic Park" or the documentary "Walking with Dinosaurs".

Also if you come to see us, you can find it in the south side of our park, crossing our entrance on the right hand side.