Information AboutCryolophosaurus |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CRYOLOPHOSAURUS | |
| dinosaurs of antarctica | |
| jurassic dinosaurs | |
| theropods | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
''Cryolophosaurus'' (''cry-oh-LOAF-oh-SORE-us'', meaning "cold crest lizard") was a large bipedal dinosaur with a bizarre crest on its head that looks like a Spanish comb. Due to the resemblance to Elvis Presley 's Pompadour haircut in the 1950s, the Dinosaur was at one point informally known as the '''''Elvisaurus'''''. ''Cryolophosaurus'' was discovered in Antarctica by the Paleontologist William Hammer, in 1991 . It is the first Carnivorous dinosaur to be discovered in Antarctica, and the first dinosaur of any kind from the continent to be officially named. Dating from the early Jurassic , it is also the earliest Tetanuran Theropod yet discovered. DESCRIPTION ''Cryolophosaurus'' was about 6 to 8 Meter s (20 to 26 Feet ) long, which is significantly smaller than the largest '' Allosaurus '', which reached up to 12 meters (40 feet) in length. A high, narrow skull was discovered, which measures 65 Centimeter s (25 Inch es) in length. The peculiar nasal crest runs just over the eyes, where it rises up, perpendicular to the skull, and fans out. It is furrowed, giving it a Comb -like appearance. The crest is actually an extension of the skull bones which lie near the tear ducts (the lachrymals), fused on either side to horns which rise from the eye sockets (orbital horns). While other theropods like the '' Monolophosaurus '' have crests, they usually run along the skull instead of across it. The crest is too fragile to be used in combat, so it was probably used in mating displays. FORESTS OF THE NIGHT The remains of the ''Cryolophosaurus'' were found with the remains of a very large Prosauropod (related to plateosaurids like the '' Plateosaurus '' and '' Lufengosaurus ''), a small Pterosaur , a Mammal-like Reptile (a Tritylodon t, which is a type of Synapsid about the size of a rat), and another unknown theropod. There were also Fossilized Tree Trunk s a couple of meters away. The site is about 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, and during the early Jurassic it was a riverbed on the southern coast of the Supercontinent of Gondwana . This supports the idea that even at high altitudes, early Jurassic Antarctica had Forest s populated by a diverse range of Species , at least along the coast. Even though Antarctica was closer to the Equator and the world was considerably warmer than today, the Climate was still a cool Temperate . Recent models of Jurassic air flow indicate that coastal areas probably never dropped much below freezing, though more extreme conditions existed inland. This suggests that dinosaurs can endure relatively cool environments, and even survive snow. ''Cryolophosaurus'' was found about 650 Kilometer s (400 Mile s) from the South Pole , but at the time it lived this was about 1000km or so farther north. In such Cryolophosaurus did not have to contend with the Polar Night . The specimen was found in conjunction with a platter from the prosauropod which has led to speculation that it may have choked to death, though there is no concrete evidence of this one way or the other. CLASSIFICATION :"''Cryolophosaurus'' is also of significance because it represents the oldest known tetanuran from any continent — it is the only one from the Early Jurassic." ::—William R. Hammer closely related to '' Dilophosaurus ''. However, it is still believed by most researchers to be an early and primitive tetanuran. The most recent study that included ''Cryolophosaurus, Smith ''et al.'' (2005), recovered this postion. DISCOVERY ''Cryolophosaurus'' was discovered in 1991 by William R. Hammer and his team on Mount Kirkpatrick , the highest peak in the Queen Alexandra Range of the Transantarctic Mountains , and additional remains were excavated during a second expedition in 2003. They were located in the Siltstone of the Falla Formation, and dated to the Pliensbachian Age of the early Jurassic. It was formally named and described in 1994 by William R. Hammer and William J. Hickerson, in the journal '' Science ''. The name ''Cryolophosaurus'' was dervived from the Greek ''kryos'' (meaning "cold" or "frozen"), ''lophos'' (meaning "crest") and ''sauros'' (meaning "lizard"). The name is a reference not to the extreme conditions faced by the excavation team, but to the relatively cool climate in which the dinosaur lived. The remains include part of a skull ( Cranium ), a jaw bone ( Mandible ), parts of the backbone (30 Vertebrae ), hip bones (the illium, ischium, and pubis), leg bones ( Femur and Fibula ), an ankle bone (tibiotarsus), and foot bones ( Metatarsals ). The skull was partially crushed by the Beardmore Glacier . At least the skull and jaw bone, and the foot bones, were found in their natural positions (articulated). The 2003 expedition uncovered additional ''Cryolophosaurus'' remains which are awaiting preparation, and a possible skin impression. Hammer is a professor of Geology and Paleontology at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois , and a curator at the Fryxell Geology Museum, where the Holotype specimen currently resides. FURTHER READING
EXTERNAL LINKS
|