Monolophosaurus

dinosaur · theropod · jurassic · china

One special crest. Monolophosaurus had a single bony crest running along the top of its skull, which is exactly what its name means: mono (one) and lophosaurus (crested lizard). This crest probably helped it look more impressive to other dinosaurs.

Medium-sized hunter. This dinosaur was about 16 to 18 feet long, roughly the length of a school bus, and weighed around 1,000 pounds. That made it a midsize predator in its forest ecosystem, not huge but definitely a fierce hunter.

Ancient China home. Monolophosaurus lived during the Middle Jurassic period in what is now Xinjiang, China. It thrived in a lush landscape filled with early plants and other dinosaurs before it went extinct millions of years ago.

Clever predator. As a tetanuran theropod, Monolophosaurus was built for hunting with sharp teeth, powerful hind legs, and sharp claws. It walked upright on two legs and used its long tail for balance while chasing prey.