Acrocanthosaure

The acrocanthosaure was large a théropode beginning of the cretaceous. In 1950, one discovered in North America several skeletons of this enormous carnivorous dinosaur. The name Acrocanthosaurus means “lizard with backbones” and refers to the lengthened spines (up to 30 cm length) formed an outgrowth on the spinal column of the animal. These spines were probably covered with skin, thus forming a peak along the back. The peak of Acrocanthosaurus was low compared to those of some of its close relations living elsewhere in world. The spines of Altispinax of the West of Europe were four times longer than the vertebrae which supported them. African Spinosaurus had a “sail” being 1,80 m high.

Its name means thorny lizard .

Time: Lower cretaceous

Size: 11-13 m of length, 2,4 tons

Habitat: The USA (Antlers formation)

food Mode: carnivore

Anatomy

The acrocanthosaure , discovered in 1940, was large a Théropode beginning of the Crétacé. It is different easily from the Tyrannosaure by the fine flange which extends from its tail to its neck and to the presence from three fingers on each one of its front legs. It presents a rather reduced cranium compared to that of his cousins Giganotosaurinae, of the jawbones far from decorated compared to those with the others Carcharodontosauridae (Mapusaurus except), with a very high mandible in the caudal part (character which also meets at Tyrannosaurus for example). The forelimbs are short and powerful, and posterior the completely in conformity ones so that one finds at the Allosauroidea. Another characteristic in addition to its very big size (it one of largest the théropode is ever found) is the spines neurales vertebrae which are very lengthened.

Various species

Acrocanthosaurus atokensis (Stovall and Langston, 1950)
Acrocanthosaurus altispinax (Holtz et al., 2004)

Inventory of the found fossils

several partial skeletons including one almost complete

Acrocanthosaurus ( ack-row-EDGe-thO-SORE-custom ) has off very broad member the Allosauridae family. It may re-press year evolutionary link between the Late Jurassic Allosaurus and the gigantic Late Cretaceous Carcharodontosaurus . Estimates places its size At butt 40 Feet (12 Meter S) long and 13 feet (4 meters) tall.

Acrocanthosaurus was particularly noteworthy both for its size and for the low row off spines running along its back. The function off thesis spines remains unknown: they may cuts acted ace muscle anchors gold they may cuts supported has sail off skin.

It was named by J. Willis Stovall and Wann Langston, Jr. in 1950. The name means "high spined lizard" , from the Greek akros (" high"), akantha (" spine") and sauros (" lizard"). It is from the Early Cretaceous off North America. -->

External bonds

" '' Acrocanthosaurus '' ". DinoData .

"Fran" the '' Acrocanthosaurus atokensis '', from the Worldwide Museum off Natural History.
Acro FAQ, from the North Carolina Museum off Natural Sciences.

Internal bonds

See List of the dinosaurs

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