Dubreuillosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: doo-BROY-low-SORE-us
Name meaning: Dubreuil's Lizard
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 2.5m |
| Length | 9m |
| Weight | 1.5 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | France |
Dubreuillosaurus was a formidable carnivorous theropod dinosaur that stalked the landscapes of what is now France during the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 168 million years ago. This predator belonged to the megalosaurids, an early group of large theropods that dominated terrestrial ecosystems before the rise of later giants like Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus.
Measuring around 9 metres in length and standing roughly 2.5 metres tall at the hip, Dubreuillosaurus was a substantial predator for its time. It possessed the typical theropod body plan with powerful hind limbs for bipedal locomotion, relatively small arms, and a large skull armed with sharp, serrated teeth perfectly designed for slicing through flesh and bone. Its robust build suggests it was well-adapted for tackling sizeable prey.
As a carnivore, Dubreuillosaurus likely hunted a variety of prey including fish, smaller dinosaurs, and possibly early mammals and marine reptiles, given the coastal environment of Middle Jurassic France. The discovery site suggests this theropod lived in a warm, semi-tropical environment with shallow seas and lush vegetation, providing abundant hunting opportunities.
What makes Dubreuillosaurus particularly significant to palaeontologists is the exceptional preservation of its type specimen, which includes numerous skeletal elements - making it one of the most complete megalosaurid specimens ever discovered. This wealth of fossil material has provided crucial insights into the anatomy and evolution of early large theropod dinosaurs.
What made Dubreuillosaurus distinctive?
Dubreuillosaurus possessed a robust skull with powerful jaws lined with sharp, curved teeth designed for slicing meat. Its body was powerfully built with strong hind limbs and a long tail for balance, typical of large theropod predators. The specimen shows distinctive megalosaurid characteristics including specific vertebral features and limb proportions.
Behaviour
Dubreuillosaurus was likely an active predator that hunted both on land and possibly in coastal waters, taking advantage of the diverse prey available in Middle Jurassic France. As a large theropod, it probably had keen eyesight and was capable of both ambush hunting and pursuing prey across open ground.
Discovery
Dubreuillosaurus was first described by Ronan Allain in 2002. The original fossils were discovered at Calvados, Normandy, France.
Dubreuillosaurus FAQ
What did Dubreuillosaurus eat?
Dubreuillosaurus was a carnivore that hunted various prey including fish, smaller dinosaurs, early mammals, and possibly marine reptiles. Its sharp, serrated teeth were perfectly adapted for slicing through meat and bone, making it a formidable predator in
Middle Jurassic France.
How big was Dubreuillosaurus?
Dubreuillosaurus reached approximately 9 metres in length and stood about 2.5 metres tall at the hip. It weighed an estimated 1.5 tonnes, making it a substantial predator for the
Middle Jurassic period, though smaller than later giants like
Tyrannosaurus.
When did Dubreuillosaurus live?
Dubreuillosaurus lived during the
Middle Jurassic period, approximately 168.2 million years ago. This was a time when large theropod dinosaurs were beginning to diversify and establish themselves as apex predators across the globe.
Where was Dubreuillosaurus found?
Dubreuillosaurus fossils were discovered in Calvados, Normandy, France. During the
Middle Jurassic, this area was a warm, coastal environment with shallow seas and lush vegetation, providing ideal hunting grounds for this large predator.
How do you pronounce Dubreuillosaurus?
Dubreuillosaurus is pronounced 'doo-BROY-low-SORE-us'. The name can be broken down into syllables as Du-breuil-lo-saurus, with emphasis on the 'BROY' sound in the middle.
What does Dubreuillosaurus mean?
Dubreuillosaurus means 'Dubreuil's Lizard'. The name honours French geologist Guy Dubreuil, who made significant contributions to understanding the geology of Normandy where this dinosaur was discovered.
How fast could Dubreuillosaurus run?
The running speed of Dubreuillosaurus is not precisely known, but as a large theropod with powerful hind limbs, it was likely capable of reaching considerable speeds when pursuing prey or escaping danger, probably similar to other megalosaurids.
What type of dinosaur was Dubreuillosaurus?
Dubreuillosaurus was a theropod dinosaur, specifically belonging to the family Megalosauridae. These were early large carnivorous dinosaurs that preceded more famous predators like
Allosaurus and
Tyrannosaurus, but were highly successful hunters in their own right.
Was Dubreuillosaurus related to birds?
Yes, as a theropod dinosaur, Dubreuillosaurus belonged to the same group that eventually gave rise to modern birds. All theropods, including Dubreuillosaurus, share a common ancestor with birds, though this particular species lived much earlier in dinosaur evolution.
How many Dubreuillosaurus fossils have been found?
The primary evidence for Dubreuillosaurus comes from its exceptionally well-preserved type specimen (MNHN 1998-13), which includes numerous skeletal elements. This makes it one of the most complete megalosaurid specimens known to science, though additional fossil material may exist.
