Ceratosaurus

#6

by Kyle Morris on October 22, 2021

Ceratosaurus, or “horned lizard,” was first described by paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh in 1884. Found throughout the western United States, this carnivorous theropod was anywhere from 17–25 feet long, weighed at least 1 ton, and stood at about 7–8 feet tall.

Its most defining features are the prominent nasal horn and the horns above each eye. These horns were fairly rounded rather than sharp like those of a Triceratops or rhinoceros. The horns were likely used as a display to attract a mate or to identify individuals. Another attribute that sets this dinosaur apart from most other theropods is that it had four fingers rather than three. Also, it had multiple osteoderms lining its back, which may have offered protection from other larger predators.

Ceratosaurus

Artist Rendering of Ceratosaurus

It was a nimble predator, possibly able to run up to 30 mph.

The Ceratosaurus has made appearances in media such as Jurassic Park III, as well as the documentary series Jurassic Fight Club.

October is “dinosaur month!” Every weekday of this month, you can come back to our Kids site to read about my 20 favorite dinosaurs. I hope you’ll join me!