Monolophosaurus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monolophosaurus Temporal range: Middle Jurassic 165 mya
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Sauropsida
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Theropoda
Infraorder:	Tetanurae
Genus:	Monolophosaurus

Profile view of skull cast

Monolophosaurus was a medium-sized theropod from China that lived during the Jurassic period.

It had one feature not found on any other meat-eating dinosaur – a long, bony ridge that went from its nose back to the top of its head. The area where Monolophosaurus was discovered showed signs that it was sometimes covered with water, so it is possible that this dinosaur lived on the shore of a lake or sea.

The remains of the type of Monolophosaurus preserve a complete skull and partial postcranium. In fact, these remains are amongst the most complete from the Middle Jurassic of China. The dinosaur was probably a basal tetanuran.

Mounted skeletons of Monolophosaurus and Bellusaurus, Wyoming Dinosaur Center. The two are from the same formation

Images for kids

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  The restored holotype of M. jiangi, on display at the Paleozoological Museum of China

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  Restoration

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  Mounted skeleton at the Milwaukee Public Museum, clearly showing the hood-shaped antitrochanter above the hip joint

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  Digital restoration

See also

In Spanish: Monolophosaurus jiangi para niños