Metriacanthosaurus

Name meaning:

Moderate-spined lizard

Period of life:

163-160 mya

Period:

Jurassic period

Habitat:

Tropical and subtropical forests

Taxonomy:

Theropods

Countries:

Jurassic period Metriacanthosaurus | 3D Dinopedia

Anurognathus

Brachiosaurus

Metriacanthosaurus (163-160 mya)

«moderate-spined lizard», named for its spinal processes, which had processes of average length for a predator of that time.

Metriacanthosaurus was a large carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived about 160 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. Its remains have been found in what is now the United Kingdom. This reptile reached a length of around eight meters, and its mass may have exceeded one metric ton.

In its overall anatomy, Metriacanthosaurus was a fairly typical medium-sized predatory theropod: a robust body, a large head with sharp teeth that were curved and serrated like knives. The genus name is linked to a skeletal feature—moderately developed neural spines on the vertebrae. Despite this, the «spines» along its back were not especially tall and resembled similar structures in close relatives such as Megalosaurus.

The forelimbs of Metriacanthosaurus were relatively short, but each of its three fingers bore a strong claw, likely used to grasp and hold prey. Its hind limbs, by contrast, were powerful and flexible. With them, this dinosaur could reach speeds of about 30–32 kilometers per hour, an impressive performance for an animal of such size.

Metriacanthosaurus was probably an active predator, hunting smaller dinosaurs and other inhabitants of the ancient floodplains. Its strength, agility, and sharp teeth made it one of the most formidable predators of Jurassic Europe.

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