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Description

Ceratosaurus nasicornis

"Horned lizard"

Period: Late Jurassic, 161.2-145 million years ago

Classification: Ceratosauriade; medium-szied theropod

Height: 3.75 meters (12.3 feet)
Length: 9 meters (29.5 feet)
Weight: 907 kilograms (1,999.6 pounds)

Version: 3.1

Threat level: Medium

Bio: Ceratosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that originated from Late Jurassic North America, Africa, and Europe, distinguished by a bladed horn on its snout.

Ceratosaurus remains have been found in North America and Portugal. While specimens have been reported from Tanzania, Uruguay, and Switzerland, most scientists doubt their assistant to this genus. In the Morrison Formation, it is one of the rarer theropods, being overshadowed by the more common Allosaurus. An interesting feature of Ceratosaurus are the lines of osteoderms, raised bony growths, down its back which are similar to a crocodile. These act as a type of armor, which suggests that Ceratosaurus competed with and even fought with larger carnivores such as Torvosaurus and Allosaurus. It can be deduced that Ceratosaurus was in the middle of the food chain or lived in a different area to these other predators. Its primary prey was small to medium ornithopod dinosaurs such as Dryosaurus, Camptosaurus or Othnielosaurus. There are some species of Ceratosaurus that have been estimated to be as big as some Allosaurus. However, there aren't enough bones to show how big the species actually got.

Ceratosaurus most famous feature is its three horns, one on its snout and two above its eyes. Originally it was believed to have been a dangerous weapon used to attack herbivores or rivals. In recent studies, it has been concluded that the horns were too blunt and fragile to be used as weapons and were more likely a display feature that helped it attract mates. Its four-fingered arms were short but strangely muscular and its fangs were some of longest in comparison to its skull with them going past its bottom jaw on some specimens which probably means its jaw could open incredibly wide to swallow food. It could possibly have used these fangs to rip out the jugular of larger prey. Ceratosaurus tail was very flexible and helped it swim which may point to it supplementing its diet with aquatic prey.
Even though the Ceratosaurus was smaller than the Allosaurus, its closest relative, Genyodectes, survived further than the Allosaurids, appearing in the Early Cretaceous.

All North American Ceratosaurus finds come from the Morrison Formation which had a semiarid environment with distinct wet and dry seasons. It housed a variety of different sauropods such as Apatosaurus, Brontosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Diplodocus. Other dinosaurs known from the Morrison Formation include the theropods Allosaurus and Torvosaurus, as well as herbivores such as Dryosaurus and Stegosaurus.

A partial Ceratosaurus specimen indicates the presence of the genus in the Lourinhã Formation. Besides Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus and Torvosaurus were known to have lived in the area. Herbivorous dinosaurs from the formation include the sauropods Dinheirosaurus and Zby, as well as the stegosaur Miragaia.

Bred sometime after Jurassic Park had opened to the public, InGen's Ceratosaurus' appear to be based on C. nasicornis from North America, with some differences to their ancestors. For one, they are much larger than any specimen from the fossil record, however, this could potentially be a side-effect of the cloning process. As with virtually all of InGen's theropods, their wrists are pronated and there is shrink-wrapping around the skull. Three Ceratosaurus specimens are currently housed within Jurassic Park. They are voracious predators in their own right, possessing a keen sense of smell. It is recommended by Jurassic Park's game warden Robert Muldoon that you remain completely still in the presence of these creatures, as running will excite them and cause them to give chase.

So here is Ceratosaurus everybody. Stuck with the Null skin as I love its look from Jurassic Park III Went for a more dynamic shot with this one, having a Ceratosaurus take down a Muttaburrasaurus. As always, hope you guys enjoy and be sure to comment and fave

Up next: Stegosaurus.

All rights are (c) of their original owners. I OWN NOTHING!

Description

Ceratosaurus nasicornis

"Horned lizard"

Period: Late Jurassic, 161.2-145 million years ago

Classification: Ceratosauriade; medium-szied theropod

Height: 3.75 meters (12.3 feet)
Length: 9 meters (29.5 feet)
Weight: 907 kilograms (1,999.6 pounds)

Version: 3.1

Threat level: Medium

Bio: Ceratosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that originated from Late Jurassic North America, Africa, and Europe, distinguished by a bladed horn on its snout.

Ceratosaurus remains have been found in North America and Portugal. While specimens have been reported from Tanzania, Uruguay, and Switzerland, most scientists doubt their assistant to this genus. In the Morrison Formation, it is one of the rarer theropods, being overshadowed by the more common Allosaurus. An interesting feature of Ceratosaurus are the lines of osteoderms, raised bony growths, down its back which are similar to a crocodile. These act as a type of armor, which suggests that Ceratosaurus competed with and even fought with larger carnivores such as Torvosaurus and Allosaurus. It can be deduced that Ceratosaurus was in the middle of the food chain or lived in a different area to these other predators. Its primary prey was small to medium ornithopod dinosaurs such as Dryosaurus, Camptosaurus or Othnielosaurus. There are some species of Ceratosaurus that have been estimated to be as big as some Allosaurus. However, there aren't enough bones to show how big the species actually got.

Ceratosaurus most famous feature is its three horns, one on its snout and two above its eyes. Originally it was believed to have been a dangerous weapon used to attack herbivores or rivals. In recent studies, it has been concluded that the horns were too blunt and fragile to be used as weapons and were more likely a display feature that helped it attract mates. Its four-fingered arms were short but strangely muscular and its fangs were some of longest in comparison to its skull with them going past its bottom jaw on some specimens which probably means its jaw could open incredibly wide to swallow food. It could possibly have used these fangs to rip out the jugular of larger prey. Ceratosaurus tail was very flexible and helped it swim which may point to it supplementing its diet with aquatic prey.
Even though the Ceratosaurus was smaller than the Allosaurus, its closest relative, Genyodectes, survived further than the Allosaurids, appearing in the Early Cretaceous.

All North American Ceratosaurus finds come from the Morrison Formation which had a semiarid environment with distinct wet and dry seasons. It housed a variety of different sauropods such as Apatosaurus, Brontosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Diplodocus. Other dinosaurs known from the Morrison Formation include the theropods Allosaurus and Torvosaurus, as well as herbivores such as Dryosaurus and Stegosaurus.

A partial Ceratosaurus specimen indicates the presence of the genus in the Lourinhã Formation. Besides Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus and Torvosaurus were known to have lived in the area. Herbivorous dinosaurs from the formation include the sauropods Dinheirosaurus and Zby, as well as the stegosaur Miragaia.

Bred sometime after Jurassic Park had opened to the public, InGen's Ceratosaurus' appear to be based on C. nasicornis from North America, with some differences to their ancestors. For one, they are much larger than any specimen from the fossil record, however, this could potentially be a side-effect of the cloning process. As with virtually all of InGen's theropods, their wrists are pronated and there is shrink-wrapping around the skull. Three Ceratosaurus specimens are currently housed within Jurassic Park. They are voracious predators in their own right, possessing a keen sense of smell. It is recommended by Jurassic Park's game warden Robert Muldoon that you remain completely still in the presence of these creatures, as running will excite them and cause them to give chase.

So here is Ceratosaurus everybody. Stuck with the Null skin as I love its look from Jurassic Park III Went for a more dynamic shot with this one, having a Ceratosaurus take down a Muttaburrasaurus. As always, hope you guys enjoy and be sure to comment and fave

Up next: Stegosaurus.

All rights are (c) of their original owners. I OWN NOTHING!