dilophosaurus

Classification: Theropod, neotheropod

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Body length: 6 m

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Body weight: 500 kg – 1 t

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Epoch: Early Jurassic

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Locations: USA, China

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The name ‘dilophosaurus’ originated from the Greek ‘di’ (‘two), ‘lophos’ (‘crest’) and ‘sauros’ (‘lizard’); thus, a ‘two-crested lizard’.

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It originated from the most characteristic feature – a pair of longitudinal, plate-shaped crests on its skull, which as if continued from the nose bone.

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They are regarded too weak for any other function than visual display. A dilophosaurus was a carnivore, feeding off dead carcases, because its teeth were too weak to kill a large prey.