Cryolophosaurus

dinosaur · Antarctica · Early Jurassic · predator

Icy-crested hunter. Cryolophosaurus had a unique double crest of bone on its head that looked like a frozen crown. Its name actually means 'frozen crest,' which is pretty perfect for a dinosaur discovered in Antarctica.

Found in ice. Scientists discovered Cryolophosaurus in Antarctica, one of the only places where fossils from Early Jurassic theropods have been found. This dinosaur lived about 190 million years ago when Antarctica was much warmer than it is today.

Big but not biggest. This dinosaur was one of the largest theropods of its time, stretching 20 to 23 feet long, which is about as long as a small school bus. It weighed between 772 and 1,025 pounds, making it a serious predator.

Only one skeleton. Everything we know about Cryolophosaurus comes from just one fossil skeleton. Scientists have carefully studied this single subadult specimen to understand how this dinosaur lived and hunted.