«Аллозавр»
В США он особенно популярен, поэтому неоднократно входил в список главных героев документальных фильмов. Латинское имя Аллозавр происходит от греческих слов, обозначающих другую ящерицу. По какой причине? Причина в том, что на момент описания этого рода в 1877 году найденный образец значительно отличался от нескольких ранних окаменелостей «ужасных рептилий». Это важное звено в изучении эволюции последних.
Визитная карточка
| стержень | Семья | Подотряд | Ед. изм | Супернатант |
| Аллозавр | Аллозавриды | Тероподы | Рога ящерицы | Динозавры |
| Длина до, м | Высота до, м | Масса до, т | Гил, млн. | Естественная среда |
| 9,7 | 2,8 | 2,3 | 155-150 (н. Юра) | США, Португалия |
Время и место существования
Allosaurs existed at the end of the Jurassic period, about 155-150 million years ago (the Kimeridge and beginning of the Tithonian stages). They were widespread in the territory of the modern USA and Portugal.
Types and history of detection
At present, the only species, Allosaurus fragilis, is generally recognized, and accordingly it is typical.
The history of finds is confused, for it is dotted with numerous names of the same species. However, let us try to unravel this tangle in chronological order.
The first Allosaurus fossil was found in 1869 at Mid-Park Village near Granby, Colorado, USA. The locals described them as fossilized horse hooves. They were purchased from miners and described by geologist Ferdinand Vandiver Hayden.
The scientist then sent the specimen to Joseph Leidy, professor of anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania, who identified it as half of a dinosaur tail vertebra. He tentatively assigned the specimen to the already known European theropod genus Poekilopleuron, naming it Poicilopleuron valens (the correct name for the genus Poekilopleuron, but then several Latin spellings were used). Later, he also transferred it to a separate genus, Anthrodemus. However, now it is clear that these were the primary remains of a representative of Allosaurus.
The official name and full description was given by Charles Mash in 1877 based on the specimen YPM 1930, found by his assistant Benjamin Magee in the now famous Morrison Formation, more precisely in the Garden Park area north of Canyon City (Colorado, USA).
We deciphered the name of the genus back at the beginning of this article, and the species fragilis means "fragile." It is connected with the lightened structure of vertebrae of the predator.
Body Structure
We rely on the confirmed length of the largest complete specimen. It moved on two powerful legs. The foot, as usual, consisted of a trio of supporting toes and a small hind foot. In contrast to Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus had sufficiently developed front limbs capable of causing damage to herbivorous dinosaurs at close impact. The hand consisted of three fingers, each of which was equipped with a sharp claw. They also served as additional manipulators for carving the fall.
Although the skull of Allosaurus is similar in general terms to that of Ceratosaurus, it was more robust and massive while retaining mobility (see exhibits below).
Body Structure
The body length of the Allosaurus reached 9.7 meters. It was up to 2.8 meters high. It weighed up to 2.3 tons.
We rely on the confirmed length of the largest complete specimen. It moved on two powerful legs. The foot, as usual, consisted of a trio of supporting toes and a small hind foot. In contrast to Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus had sufficiently developed front limbs capable of causing damage to herbivorous dinosaurs at close impact. The hand consisted of three fingers, each of which was equipped with a sharp claw. They also served as additional manipulators for carving the fall.
Although the skull of Allosaurus is similar in general terms to that of Ceratosaurus, it was more robust and massive while retaining mobility (see exhibits below).
Allosaurus skeleton
The photo shows an exhibit of the species Allosaurus fragilis, installed in the lobby of the San Diego Museum of Natural History (USA).
Below is a skull from the collection of the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences (Cambridge, England).
We also offer a graphic reconstruction of Allosaurus fragilis by paleoillustrator Scott Hartman.
Nutrition and lifestyle
Despite the fact that the fertile environment of Late Jurassic America facilitated the emergence of a whole host of predators of different sizes, Allosaurus confidently occupied the upper rung of the food chain. Even the formidable Ceratosaurus could not compete with it.
What was usually hunted? It is known for certain that besides small herbivorous dinosaurs, Allosaurs could select as a target also large sauropods - Apatosaurus. Of course, to attack such giants alone or even in pairs would be reckless, so despite the solid size Allosaurus had to unite in well-coordinated groups of ten individuals. Having hit the trail and coldly tracked the giants, they tried to attack a sick or young individual, preliminarily cutting it off from the main herd. The hungry Allosaurus did not disdain carrion either.
В качестве доказательства этих фактов были обнаружены хвостовые позвонки апатозавра с царапинами и проколами, расстояние между которыми было идентично промежуткам между зубами аллозавра, останки которого были найдены поблизости. Жертва могла просто умереть от болезни, тогда на него наткнулась хищная ящерица. В более крупном масштабе, его могли сначала выследить вместе с группой других ящериц, или, может быть, на него охотился отряд цератозавров. В последнем случае прибывший аллозавр был вполне способен напугать и разогнать более мелких теропод, тем самым вернув себе желаемую добычу.
Мог охотиться на:
- Апатозавр
- Брахиозавр
- Диплодок
- Стегозавр
Соседние теропод:
- Цератозавр
Представители близкородственных семей:
- Гиганотозавр
- Кархародонтозавр
- Мегараптор
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