Dilophosaurus (Dilophosaurus wetherilli) was a large predatory dinosaur from the Jurassic Period and is best known for the pair of bony crests on its skull. It lived in what is now the southwestern United States during the Early Jurassic, making it one of the key theropods for understanding early dinosaur ecosystems.
Time Period
Dilophosaurus lived during the Early Jurassic. In your site filter, this is grouped under Jurassic, a period when dinosaurs were rapidly diversifying and spreading after earlier mass-extinction events.
Habitat
Fossils are strongly associated with the Kayenta Formation in Arizona. The environment is often reconstructed as river systems and floodplains with seasonal changes, where predators and herbivores shared water sources and hunting grounds.
Size and Appearance
Dilophosaurus reached about 6–7 meters in length. It had a relatively slender, athletic body with strong legs for running and a large skull lined with sharp teeth. The most striking feature is the pair of thin crests on top of the head, which likely served display or communication functions.
Diet and Hunting
As a carnivore, Dilophosaurus hunted other animals. Its build suggests it could move quickly and may have relied on repeated bites and pursuit rather than the extremely heavy bone-crushing strategy seen in later tyrannosaurs.
Movie Myths
Dilophosaurus is sometimes portrayed in movies with a neck frill and venom-spitting abilities. There is no scientific evidence for these traits. The real animal was larger and more realistically built as a typical early theropod predator.
