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THE MAKING OF THE ALLOSAURUS
Allosaurus
was a carnivorous "lizard-hipped" dinosaur or theropod.
It had a bony red crest above each eye, a strong s-shaped neck.
Its teeth were 5-10 cm long. Allosaurus' strong back and neck
aided its jaws in tearing off chunks of flesh.
It had quite
short arms which ended in three long hook-like claws. These were
important for attacking and holding on to prey. Allosaurus fed
on sauropods and other large game.
Although not
really built for speed, it had two sturdy legs and a powerful
tail. It was a fearsome predator of its time.
The genus
Allosaurus is based on the virtually complete skeleton discovered
by M. P. Felch in 1883.
More than
60 complete and partial Allosaurus skeletons have been recovered
from the Morrison Formation between Wyoming and New Mexico, in
the USA. It is the largest and most common carnivore found in
these widespread deposits. At the Cleveland Lloyd Quarry in Utah,
USA, Allosaurus is by far the most numerous fossil type and is
represented by at least 44 individuals. These ranged in size from
adults to juveniles.
This robotic
version of the Allosaurus has baffled the experts. It may be a
clue from one possible future.
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