Dilophosaurus
Dilophosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period, approximately 193 million years ago. It is one of the earliest large predatory dinosaurs known from North America.
Description
Dilophosaurus measured around 6–7 meters (20–23 feet) in length and weighed up to 400 kg (880 lbs). Its most distinctive feature was a pair of thin, arched crests on its skull, likely used for display or species recognition. Despite its fearsome appearance, its jaws were relatively delicate, suggesting it may have scavenged or hunted smaller prey.
Discovery
The first fossils were discovered in Arizona in the 1940s and formally described in 1954. The species name, D. wetherilli, honors Navajo councilor Jesse Wetherill. Subsequent finds have helped clarify its anatomy and evolutionary relationships.
Popular Culture
Dilophosaurus gained fame through its fictionalized portrayal in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, where it was depicted with a frill and venom-spitting ability—features not supported by fossil evidence.
