Teratophoneus

dinosaur · Utah · Late Cretaceous · predator

Scary name means. Teratophoneus is named after Terat the monster and Phoney the killer, making it the "monster killer" dinosaur. The name fits because it was a fearsome meat-eating hunter.

Lived long ago. This dinosaur roamed what is now Utah during the Late Cretaceous period, about 75 million years ago. It was among the last dinosaurs before they all went extinct.

Found as fossils. Scientists discovered Teratophoneus from an incomplete skull and skeleton in the Kaiparowits Formation in Utah. Even though the fossil wasn't complete, it told us a lot about this meat-eating dinosaur.

Named after a scientist. The species T. curriei was named to honor paleontologist Philip J. Currie, who studies dinosaurs. When scientists discover new species, they often name them after people they admire.

Tyrannosaurine hunter. Teratophoneus belonged to the tyrannosaurine family, making it a relative of the famous T. rex. These dinosaurs were among the most powerful meat-eaters of their time.