Although that this monster resided in Antarctica and its name actually indicates “freezing lizard,” it resided in a cozy exotic environment.
The Cryolophosaurus was a meat-eating dinosaur that went extinct concerning 180 million years earlier, throughout the Jurassic duration. The name Cryolophosaurus indicates “icy crested lizard” and describes the dinosaur’s environment being Antarctica. Nonetheless, this name is paradoxical due to the fact that Antarctica was a cozy exotic area covered in woodlands when this animal strolled the planet.
Scientific Name
The Cryolophosaurus was a gigantic land- bound reptile that stretched the premises of Antarctica throughout the very early Jurassic duration. Its name can be split right into “cryolopho”-freezing crest and “saurus”- lizard. They were a peak killer, implying nothing else animals taken advantage of them. The species was formally called Cryolophosaurus ellioti after David Elliot, the paleontologist that uncovered the preliminary sampling.
Summary & Dimension
The Cryolophosaurus’s most specifying attribute was a big “pompadour”- like crest on the top of its head. This huge dinosaur additionally takes place to be the biggest uncovered dinosaur from Antarctica. Several of its functions are as complies with:.
Elevation | 21– 25 feet |
Body weight | 1000- 1500 pounds |
Head Dimension | 24′ |
Size | 20– 23 feet |
To day, the Cryolophosaurus is the biggest uncovered theropod of their time. They had a high and slim head. On top of that, they just had around 7- 8 cervical vertebrae to sustain their head, unlike various other dinosaurs with approximately 10- 12 vertebrae. Generally, their teeth were sharp and pointy to puncture throughout their victim. Similar to various other theropods, the Cryolophosaurus had brief arms. They additionally had a big upper body, large upper legs, and a lengthy tail prolonging in an outward direction.
Diet– What Did The Cryolophosaurus Eat?
The Cryolophosaurus was a meat-eating animal, among the top predators of its time. It victimized the smaller sized dinosaurs or Sauropods of the very early Jurassic duration, such as the Glacialisaurus, particularly those that were either young or weak. It must be kept in mind that the solution to the inquiry “What did the Cryolophosaurus eat?” just originates from understanding concerning their environment given that they resided in a pre- human period.
Environment – When And Where It Lived
The Cryolophosaurus lived concerning 200 to 180 million years earlier, throughout the very early Jurassic duration. They largely occupied numerous areas of Antarctica, which were covered in thick forests and had an exotic environment throughout this time around. Antarctica belonged to the supercontinent “Pangea” throughout the very early Jurassic duration and was not from another location as chilly as it is currently.
Risks And Predators
As discussed over, the Cryolophosaurus was just one of the leading pinnacle predators in Antarctica. This indicates that it victimized its vegetarian buddies such as the plant- consuming Glacialisaurus. While these animals were virtually irresistible when it pertained to predation in Antarctica, all-natural catastrophes and various other males of their species were their greatest opponents. Territorial male Cryolophosauruses commonly dealt with each other over victim and companions. Fossils recommend that the males would certainly commonly combat to the fatality.
Discoveries and Fossils – Where Was The Cryolophosaurus Found?
Cryolophosaurus fossils were not uncovered for a long time as a result of the chilly temperature levels of Antarctica. They were initially discovered on Mount Kirkpatrick in the Beardmore Glacier location of the Transantarctic Hills in the 1990s. This example was drawn from the siliceous siltstone of the Hanson array and was discovered to be dating as much back as the very early Jurassic duration. Generally, there were a number of obstacles in the exploration of the Cryolophosaurus as a result of the serious environment problems in the location. Generally, the variety of fossil sampling of the animal are sporadic as a result of the tough surface of Antarctica that makes excavation challenging.
Termination – When Did The Cryolophosaurus Pass Away Out?
The last recognized Cryolophosaurus was discovered 180 million years earlier at the start of the Jurassic duration. They are believed to have actually gone extinct throughout the mass termination occasion referred to as the Cretaceous- Paleogene termination, a wave that eliminated virtually 3- quarters of all plants and animals of the moment. They were most likely targets of volcanic eruptions that ultimately triggered unexpected and serious environment adjustment.
Similar Animals To The Cryolophosaurus
Similar dinosaurs to the Cryolophosaurus consist of:.
- Spinosaurus: Concerning the very same elevation as the Cryolophosaurus, this extinct theropod genus additionally lived throughout the very same period as the Cryolophosaurus, other than in the hotter North African area.
- Dracovenator: Tool- sized bipedal predators of the Very early Jurassic duration that resided in South Africa.
- Dilophosaurus: A genus of theropod dinosaur that resided in The United States and Canada throughout the Very Early Jurassic Duration, concerning 190 million years earlier.
All 3 of these animals additionally went extinct throughout the Cretaceous- Paleogene mass termination occasion.
- Tyrannosaurus- rex
- Giganotosaurus