Page 27 - Prehistoric Animals

Ce-Ra-Toe-So-Rus

Ceratosaurus

What is a Dinosaur ?
Known as a Dinosaur

Ceratosaurus (Horned lizard) was a carnivorous theropod dinosaur. It lived in the Late Ju-
rassic, around 150 million years ago. The first and nearly complete skeleton was found in Garden
park, Colorado and named by, Othniel Charles Marsh, in 1884; Ceratosaurus nasicornis. This
specimen was around 6 metres long. However, later finds suggest the species may have been
much larger.

Its distinctive features, is its large head with three horns; one large horn on its snout and
two smaller ones; one over each eye. These horns appear to be blunt, leading some to conclude
they were either for show or used to fight other Ceratosaurus for the position of dominant part-
ner at mating time. Its teeth, 4 inches long, were sharp and serrated. As a carnivore, they could
easily slice through raw meat, or prove deadly in a fight. It also has very short forelimbs and a
line of bone like spikes (osteoderms) running down its back, these could be for some form of pro-
tection against attack or in a fight.

Although fossils have been found in South America, Europe and Africa, Ceratosaurus is still
a relatively rare species and much has still to be learnt about it. For instants, its large deep tail
suggests it might have been an occasional swimmer and hunted aquatic prey such as fish.