Overview
Name meaning: High-spined lizard
Time Period: Aptian to Albian (Early Cretaceous)
Locations: Oklahoma/Texas/Wyoming
Taxonomy: Theropoda-Carcharodontosauridae
Subspecies: A.atokensis
Characteristics
A fierce Carcharodontosaurid ruling the Early Cretaceous. Its spine extended giving it a muscle ridge running along its back that could have been to make it look larger or to attract mates as well as supporting the neck for additional muscle support. It’s why it's named the high-spined lizard and at 40 feet long tt makes Metriacanthosaurus the Moderately spined lizard look pitiful in comparison, which it is not even very closely related to. Rather Carcharodontosaurids are derived from Allosauria and closest related to Neovenatoridae. It had sharp serrated teeth meant for tearing into flesh and not letting go as it bit into prey with forces between 8,000 and 16,000 newtons. It had smaller rather inflexible arms with 4 digits that did not receive very much use throughout its life. In its environment it was the apex predator feeding on the early Iguanodontid Tenontosaurus and it may have possibly taken down the titanic over 45 feet tall Sauroposeidon. Along with coexisting with over species in the coastal floodplains of it’s home like Deinonychus, Microvenator, and Ornithocheirus.
History
It was found in Oklahoma in 1940 by J. Willis Stovall and Wann Langston. in 1982 by amateur paleontologists Cephis Hall and Sid Love in Texas found Acrocanthosaurus OMNH 10146, the most complete specimen with a fully preserved skull and over 50% of the skeleton.The specimen was eventually preserved and displayed at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences where it can still be seen today. A Juvenile USNM 466054 was found all the way in the Arundel Formation of Maryland surprising because preservation bias makes finding such large fossils difficult in the Eastern United States and it provides evidence for Acrocanthosaurus have a wide range spanning most of Cretaceous North America.
Media Deptictions
Jurassic World Evolution: Added in the Carnivore species pack Acrocanthosaurus has a very nice design. The spine isn't as prominent as other depictions looking more typical of other large theropods. It has really nice skin variety in both games with both bright and dull colors. Also everyone calls this design "fat" or "chunky" but I don't really see it, also I doubt you would say that to her face.
Dinosauria 2 Acrocanthosaurus will be featured in an upcoming short film in Dinosauria 2 where a group of 3 Acro's likely despratly in need of food attempt to take down a Sauroposeidon. Acrocanthosaurus is also displayed taking care of its fluffy young not commonly represented with Carcharodontosaurids The film is not currently out yet but will be linked here when it does, for now watch the trailer Here
