Overview
Allosaurus was the dominant predator of the Late Jurassic, ruling North America and possibly Europe with ruthless efficiency. Lighter and faster than T. Rex, it likely used a 'hatchet attack' — driving its massive skull into prey and tearing off chunks of flesh. Thousands of Allosaurus bones have been found at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in Utah, possibly the result of a predator trap.
Key fact
The apex predator of the Jurassic, 85 million years before T. Rex. Likely hunted Stegosaurus and young sauropods.
Did you know?
- May have used its skull as a hatchet, smashing into prey with its upper jaw.
- Multiple individuals found together suggest some form of group behaviour.
- Had three fingers, each tipped with large, curved talons.
- Likely the main predator of Stegosaurus and adult sauropods of the Jurassic.