Ceratosaurus

Ceratosaurus was a genus of large, predatory dinosaurs which lived during the Jurassic period. The genus was named for the large, blade-like horn at the end of the snout and over its eyes. Ceratosaurus also share numerous features with modern-day bird species.

Fast Facts

1. Pronounced: Sih-RAT-uh-SAWR-us
2. Name means: "Horned Lizard"
3. Discovered in 1884 by O.C. Marsh
4. Classification:
   1. Order: Saurischia
   2. Suborder: Theropoda
   3. Family: Ceratosauridae
   4. Genus: Ceratosaurus¹
5. Diet: Carnivore
6. Length: 20 - 28 feet
7. Height: 8 - 13 feet
8. Weight: 1 ton¹
9. Time Period: 225 - 145 million years ago²
10. Fossils found in central Utah and Colorado

Avian Resemblance

Ceratosaur specimens uniformly exhibit many features similar to modern-day birds, including:

1. Hollow bones
2. Curved, S-shaped neck bones
3. Loosely-connected jaws
   • -Missing a large tooth at the very back of the lower jaw²

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