| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 2.5m |
| Length | 7m |
| Weight | 1.5 tonnes |
| Speed | 30 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | North America And Europe |
Ceratosaurus was a fearsome theropod dinosaur that roamed North America and Europe during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 158 to 149 million years ago. This impressive predator stood out amongst its contemporaries due to its most distinctive feature - a prominent horn projecting from its snout, giving it the appearance of a reptilian rhinoceros. Growing up to 7 metres in length and weighing around 1.5 tonnes, Ceratosaurus was a formidable hunter in the prehistoric landscape.
The most remarkable aspect of Ceratosaurus was its unique skull ornamentation. In addition to the nasal horn, it possessed small ridges above its eyes and a row of small osteoderms (bony plates) running along its back - unusual features amongst large theropods. Its powerful jaws were lined with sharp, serrated teeth perfect for slicing through flesh, whilst its strong legs and long tail made it an effective pursuit predator.
As a carnivore, Ceratosaurus likely hunted a variety of prey including fish, smaller dinosaurs, and possibly even competed with other large predators like Allosaurus for carcasses. Its robust build suggests it was well-adapted for taking down substantial prey, and some scientists believe it may have been semi-aquatic, spending time near rivers and lakes hunting fish and other aquatic animals.
Ceratosaurus fossils have been discovered in the famous Morrison Formation of the western United States, as well as in Portugal, indicating this theropod had a relatively wide geographic distribution during the Late Jurassic period.
Ceratosaurus is instantly recognisable by the prominent horn on its snout, which no other large theropod possessed. It also had small bony ridges above its eyes and a unique row of small bony plates running down its back, making it quite different from other predatory dinosaurs of its time.
Ceratosaurus was likely a solitary hunter that used its powerful build and sharp teeth to take down prey. Some evidence suggests it may have been semi-aquatic, spending considerable time near water sources hunting fish and other aquatic animals, which would have distinguished its behaviour from other large theropods of the Morrison Formation.
Ceratosaurus has appeared in several dinosaur documentaries and was featured in the video game Jurassic World Evolution, where its distinctive horned appearance makes it a popular choice among players.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Genus | Ceratosaurus |
Ceratosaurus was first described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1884. The original fossils were discovered at Garden Park, Colorado, USA.
