| Skull and head Allosaurus's great head was less heavy than it appeared. Many skull bones
were load-bearing bars that separated "windows" for nostrils, eyes, and muscles.
The studiest bones supported the teeth and jaw muscles. |
(Al-uh-sawr-us)
Allosaurus is one of the most fearsome
eating machines of the dinosaur age. Remains of these gigantic, flesh-eating dinosaurs
have been found in North America, Africa, Australia and Asia. In one field, scientists
found remains of more than 40 Allosaurus.
Allosaurus had a head more than 3 feet long.
With jaws hinged like those of a snake, it could swallow its prey whole. Its teeth were
curved and up to 4 inches in length. Allosaurus was different from other flesh-eating
dinosaurs. It had a ridge along the top of its skull and strange bumps above its eyes. The
animal had powerful muscles and a strong tall to give it balance. With only small front
legs it had to run and fight on its two powerful back legs. Allosaurus had a single claw 6
inches long on each finger. With these it could slash and tear the flesh of its prey. On
each foot were three toes, each with a claw-like talon.
.GIF)
Allosaurus belonged to a family that lived
successfully for about 100 million years. It would attack slow, lumbering dinosaurs like
Apatosaurus. One fossil Apatosaurus skeleton has been found with Allosaurus tooth marks on
its tail bones.
