Allosaurus Information

An Allosaurus, a formidable predator from the Jurassic period, trots through the forest until it spots a young Stegosaurus, one of its preferred prey. This carnivore, capable of sprinting at speeds of about 21 miles per hour, uses its eight-inch-long claws to grab the Stegosaurus and its 70 sharp teeth to chomp down, making a quick meal of it.

Experts debate whether Allosaurus primarily hunted live prey, including massive plant-eaters like Apatosaurus, or scavenged dead or dying animals.

Regardless, it was built for meat consumption. Recent studies suggest that Allosaurus could open its jaw wide enough to slash at prey with its upper jaw, akin to a knife. It likely tore off chunks of meat by yanking its head backward, similar to modern raptors. Fossils even show Allosaurus bite marks on Stegosaurus neck plates.

Living around 145 million years ago, Allosaurus belonged to the theropod family and could grow up to 40 feet long, though most fossils are about 28 feet. Unlike the later T. rex, Allosaurus had strong arms and clawed hands to hold struggling prey. Named “strange reptile” due to its hourglass-shaped backbone bones, Allosaurus fossils have been found in North America, Tanzania, and Germany.