(DRIP-tuh-sawr-us)

This animal is one of the most mysterious dinosaurs, because nobody has been able to build up a full skeleton. At least 12 fossil specimens have been found, however. The best skeleton was dug up by a famous dinosaur collector in 1866. He called the dinosaur Laelaps. Because somebody had already given that name to an insect it was changed to Dryptosaurus, which means "tearing lizard." This was an appropriate name. Dryptosaurus was a large meat eater like Tyrannosaurus. It was about 25 feet long with curved teeth and three large clawson each foot.