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Yangchuanosaurus
Yangchuanosaurus meaning “Yongchuan lizard” derived its name from the region it was discovered in. Judging by skeletal remains he was a huge, ferocious land animal that lived about 145 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Nearly complete skeletal discoveries of this dinosaur have been uncovered in Yangchun, China which is where this beast apparently lived.
A known hunter, Yangchuanosaurus was meat eater notorious for stalking its prey. Comparatively this dinosaur was highly intelligent which may explain his predatory nature. His stature allowed for him to contend in battle with other large carnivores and it is highly likely that he was often the winner.
The Yangchuanosaurus was also known for its size, being the largest predator in just about whatever area he chose to roam. At full growth this dinosaur could weigh in at some 5200 pounds, and was able to grow up to 35 feet long. He was a very strong dinosaur with extremely strong hind legs which he used to walk and run. His two front arms were shorter, allowing him to grab hold of potential food, then using his three fingered clawed hands he would tear apart his meal before consuming it with his razor sharp teeth. His neck was short and thick, supporting a big head which could grow up to three and a half feet round.
With his strong hind legs, the Yangchuanosaurus would run at top speeds after his prey making him a dominant predator among other animals. After catching up to his prey, it is believed that this dinosaur would then use his powerful hind legs to crush his prey. The Yangchuanosaurus did not have much of a taste for smaller animals. His target was medium to large sized plant eating animals. It is evident that he had a rapacious appetite and a fear of no competitor. It is no wonder that this dinosaur was so fierce.
Facial features of the Yangchuanosaurus included a crest on the front of his snout, which ran from his nose and stopped right before his eyes. It is thought that this area was fully covered with horns which are another mechanism he could use to defend himself. Most modern artistic renderings of the Yangchuanosaurus show this area of the head to be a bright color which would likely be useful to the dinosaur for attracting a mate.
As of today, no complete skeleton of has been found; so much is still to be learned about this awesome dinosaur.
1. When Discovered: June 1977
2. Weight: 5200 pounds
3. Region: Yangchun, China
4. Diet: Carnivore
5. Height: 15 feet
6. Length: 35 feet