DILOPHOSAURUS
(Two-crested lizard)
Quick Facts
🦴 Diet: Carnivore
⏳ Era: Early Jurassic (193 MYA)
🌎 Found: Arizona, USA & Yunnan, China
🏞️ Habitat: Riverbanks & arid floodplains
Distinctive Features
1. Iconic Crests
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Twin semicircular bony crests on skull
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Likely used for display (species recognition/mating)
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Not for combat – too fragile
2. Unique Jaw Structure
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Crocodile-like notch behind front teeth
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Weak bite force → specialized for small prey
3. Size & Build
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Length: 7 m (23 ft)
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Weight: 400 kg (880 lbs)
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Much larger than Jurassic Park depiction
Hunting Behavior
Prey
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Fish, small reptiles, early mammals
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Possibly scavenged carcasses
Pack Hunting?
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Controversial – some fossil sites show groups
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May have cooperated like komodo dragons
Movie Myths Debunked
❌ No neck frill (Hollywood invention)
❌ No venom (zero fossil evidence)
❌ Not tiny (film shrunk it for dramatic effect)
Scientific Significance
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One of the earliest large theropods
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Shows transition from small to giant predators
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Crests represent early evolution of display structures
Comparison Chart
| Attribute | Dilophosaurus | Jurassic Park Version |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 7 m long | 3 m long |
| Crests | Solid bone | Retractable |
| Neck | Normal | Frilled |
| Venom | None | Spitting |
Visual Upgrade Suggestions:
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Add scale diagram vs. human
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Include fossil map of Arizona/China sites
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Show crest anatomy cross-section
Corrections Made:
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Fixed “creers” → crests
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Removed nonsensical “Kinect/Spleen” ratings
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Clarified pack hunting evidence is inconclusive
Would you like me to design this as a proper infographic with illustrations? I can include:
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A scientifically accurate reconstruction
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Timeline of early Jurassic predators
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Size comparison with other theropods
(Source: Peer-reviewed studies on Early Jurassic theropods, UC Museum of Paleontology)