Dilophosaurus

Dilophosaurus

Di-lo-fo-sore-us
Skull of Dilophosaurus

Name meaning: Two Crested lizard

Time Period: Sinemurian (Early Jurassic) 195.2–183.7 Mya

Locations: Arizona

Taxonomy: Theropoda-Dilophosauridae

Subspecies: D.wetherilli

Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~

18 feet long but only around 880 pounds being lightly built. Dilophosaurus was the largest animal on the land in Early Jurassic North America. The animal is known for its two large crests displaying from the skull. They would have been covered in keratin and likely brightly colored; they were used for recognising individuals and attracting mates. Its skull also had a subnarial gap a notch between the premaxilla and the maxilla; it shared these traits with Coelophysis and other Coelophysids of the Triassic only its larger and more noticeable. Another trait they shared is 4 digit hands, both had four fingers with one vestigial finger that did not have any function. Dilophosaurus had a relatively weak bite overall but long sharply serrated teeth snagging into prey like Scutellosaurus, Meganaposaurus, Sarahsaurus, Synapsids-mammal ancestors as well as some predators like Crocodilomorphs and Meganaposaurus were potential prey for Dilophosaurus. But fish might also be a large part of its diet; the subnarial gap isn't a trait that supports high bite force but it’s a trait seen in piscivores like Spinosaurids as well as other traits like the dentary the furthest bone of the lower jaw is curved upward, and it had a large nares or nostril.

'Skeletal mount of the spinosaurid species Baryonyx walkeri at the Giga Dinosaur Exhibition in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo.' - Wikipedia A Baryonyx's first finger claw could reach up to 31 centimeters long as a comparison the largest Grizzly bear claws can only reach 11 centimeters and they are speculated to be used in most of the same functions.
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History & Fossils ~ ~ ~ ~

Dilophosaurus was originally discovered by Samuel Welles in 1954 classified as a subspecies of Megalosaurus M. Wetherelli. It wasn't till 1970 when Welles would discover a more complete skull with the crests that it got it’s name Dilophosaurus

Dilophosauridae is a more derived group from Coelophysidae it only contains Dilophosaurus and Dracovenator but its placement was confusing often grouping it with other crested theropods like Cryolophosaurus and Sinosaurus.

Dilophosaurus Skeleton https://www.gofundme.com/f/dawn-of-the-dinosaurs-exhibit-fundraiser?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

Media Deptictions ~ ~ ~ ~

Jurassic Franchise: The film Dilophosaurus has been heavily modified from the novel interpretation. The novel version is at its adult size, features bright colors being a red crest, a yellow body, and a yellow-green underbelly with black splotches across. The film version is described as juvenile, even though no adults have been seen throughout the franchise, so I believe it has been retconned. Being a light jungle green and having a frill like that of a frilled dragon, suggested by Spielberg to make it “stand out from Velociraptor instead of making it look like the novel version. Anyways Dilophosaurus Jurassic Park appearance has been a consistent fan favorite and is definitely one of the most memorable scenes in the film. Then for some reason Dilophosaurus did not make another appearance until Jurassic World Dominion 29 years later. It also will reappear in Jurassic World Rebirth; there isn't that much different about each movie design except for the colors and patterns on the Frill.

The very vibrant colors remind me of dart frogs, because this Dilophosaurus is venomous explaining why the Dilophosaurus had a relativly weak bite, relying on venom to subdue it's prey. It could spit its venom like a spitting cobra at distances of up to 40 feet. The park has had to be redesigned several times to account for this. Like in the film the Dilophosaurus kills Dennis Nedry just far more brutally, blinding him and slashing him letting his intestines fall into his hands as he fades unconscious.
No comment I hate how they are used in this movie, in one scene Owen-Chris Pratt just comes out of nowhere and strangles one. And later they come back in a random service tunnel so they can kill the antagonist Lewis Dodgeson for poetic justice. As of right now the movie is not out yet. I don't think it'll do much in the movie, I was lucky to find this Spanish Advertisment displaying it's frill.

Prehistoric Kingdom

The Isle

Species Profile - Dilophosaurus