Acrocanthosaurus
Ak-row-can-fo-sore-us
Name meaning: High-spined lizard
Time Period: Aptian to Albian (Early Cretaceous) 113-110 mya
Locations: Oklahoma/Texas/Wyoming
Taxonomy: Theropoda-Carcharodontosauridae
Subspecies: A. atokensis
Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~
A fierce Carcharodontosaurid ruling the Early Cretaceous. Acrocanthosaurus is known for it's pronounced extended spine which gave 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 it 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 small 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 & Fossils ~ ~ ~ ~
Acrocanthosaurus was first 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.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
At Dinosaur Valley State Park, 113 million year old Acrocanthosaurus footprints can be found which have been revealed recently due to a drought, these are probably the most well preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. It's also a great place for camping and horseback riding. The State Park Webpage can be viewed: Here
Construction of a massive 2,101 acre data center known as Comanche Circle is planned in the Paluxy valley nearby Dinosaur Valley State Park. If you would like to take action against this an Action Alert is provided Here Which can be filled out and submited in under 5 minutes and helps preseve our fossils and prevent the wildlife and rivers from being posioned.
Media Deptictions ~ ~ ~ ~
Dinosauria 2 Acrocanthosaurus will be featured in an upcoming short film in Dinosauria 2 where a group of 3 Acro's likely desperately in need of food attempt to take down a Sauroposeidon. The film is not currently out yet but will be linked here when it does, for now watch the trailer Here
Jurassic World Evolution: Added in the Carnivore species pack along with Herrerasaurus and Proceratosaurus. 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. In Jurassic World Evolution 3 The male has particuarlly great skins and the baby is huge and chunky as well.
Prehistoric Kingdom Acrocanthosaurus is not the most popular large theropod falling behind Tyrannosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus with a rating of 3174 but it is more popular that others like Tarbosaurus and Torvoasaurus. At $21,927 it has great value for it's cost as long as you can keep it containd. It has 3 skins Blast Canopy Patina with Blast being my favorite.
Extras: ~ ~ ~ ~
Acrocanthosaurus V2 by robertfabiani on Sketchfab
Articles: