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Allosaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 145 million years ago, in the Late Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian). The first remains that can definitely be ascribed to this genus were described in 1877 by Othniel Charles Marsh. As one of the first well-known theropod dinosaurs, it has long attracted attention outside of paleontological circles, and has been a lead dinosaur in several films and documentaries. Allosaurus was a large bipedal predator with a large skull, equipped with dozens of large, sharp teeth. It averaged 8.5 meters (28 ft) in length, though fragmentary remains suggest it could have reached over 12 meters (39 ft). Relative to the large and powerful hindlimbs, its three-fingered forelimbs were small, and the body was balanced by a long, heavy tail. It is classified as an allosaurid, a type of carnosaurian theropod dinosaur. The genus has a complicated taxonomy, and includes an uncertain number of valid species, the best known of which is A. fragilis. The bulk of Allosaurus remains have come from North America's Morrison Formation, with material also known from Portugal and possibly Tanzania. It was known for over half of the 20th century as Antrodemus, but study of the copious remains from the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry brought the name Allosaurus back to prominence, and established it as one of the best-known dinosaurs. (Read more...)
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From The Fossil Wiki's newest articles:
- ... that in 2005, an Acrocanthosaurus skull (pictured) was CT scanned, proving that Acrocanthosaurus was a carcharodontosaurid?
- ... that Irritator is only known from a skull that was badly obscured by plaster which was added by the commercial fossil-collecting fossil-poachers who illegally sold it in hopes of making the fossil look more complete and valuable?
- ... that rhynchosaurs had unique teeth that were modified into broad tooth plates?
- ... that a trackway produced by an unknown crocodyliform that measured approximately 12 meters in length was uncovered in the Galve region of Spain?
- ... that Loxommatids are possibly the first tetrapodomorph group to actually spend substantial time on land.?
- ... that Zuniceratops was discovered by 8 year old Christopher James Wolfe, son of paleontologist Douglas G. Wolfe?
Paleontologist of the Month
Paul Sereno is an American paleontologist who is the discoverer of several new dinosaur species on several continents. He has conducted excavations at sites as varied as Inner Mongolia, Argentina, Morocco and Niger. He is a professor at the University of Chicago and a National Geographic "explorer-in-residence." Sereno's most widely publicized discovery is that of a nearly complete specimen of Sarcosuchus imperator (popularly known as SuperCroc) at Gadoufaoua in the Tenere desert of Niger. Other major discoveries include Eoraptor - the oldest known dinosaur fossil, Jobaria, the first good skull of Carcharodontosaurus iguidensis, Afrovenator, Suchomimus and the African pterosaur. (Read more...)
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==Explore the prehistoric world==
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4567.17 Ma - Precambrian era - 542 Ma | |||||||||||||
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3800 Ma - Archean eon - 2500 Ma | 2500 Ma - Proterozoic eon - 542 Ma | ||||||||||||
3800 Ma - Archean eon - 2500 Ma | 2600 Ma - Paleoproterozoic era - 1600 Ma | 1600 Ma - Mesoproterozoic era - 1000 Ma | 1000 Ma - Neoproterozoic era - 542 Ma | ||||||||||
Eoarchean | Paleoarchean | Mesoarchean | Neoarchean | Siderian | Rhyacian | Orosirian | Statherian | Calymmian | Ectasian | Stenian | Tonian | Cryogenian | Ediacaran |
542 Ma - Phanerozoic eon - Present | |||||||||||
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542 Ma - Paleozoic era - 251 Ma | 251 Ma - Mesozoic era - 65 Ma | 65 Ma - Cenozoic era - Present | |||||||||
Cambrian | Ordovician | Silurian | Devonian | Carboniferous | Permian | Paleogene | Neogene | Quaternary |
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Paleontology links
Palaeos • Understanding Evolution • University of California Museum of Paleontology • The Paleobiology Database • Mikko's Phylogeny Archive • The Fossil Forum
Elasmo • Paleoanthropology Society • The Virtual Fossil Museum • The Fossil Record