Facts about Allosaurus
The Allosaurus might not be a dinosaur you hear of often, but it was arguably as incredible and mighty as the famous T. Rex ! In fact, the Allosaurus was around at the same time, during what’s known as the Jurassic period. Keep reading to uncover lots of fun facts about what made the Allosaurus so cool, and what might have happened if it went head-to-head with the mighty T. Rex itself.
What did the Allosaurus look like?
If you saw an Allosaurus in the wild, you might even mistake it for a T. Rex because they look so similar! One distinct difference is the bony bumps the Allosaurus had on its head, kind of like little horns. While scientists aren’t sure what these ridges were for, they might have been used for attracting mates, like the Parasaurolophus’s giant crest. Some think it may even have just been to protect the Allosaurus’s eyes. Take a look at the example below and see what you think!
See how it looks like a T. Rex? Similarly, the Allosaurus was very muscular, with strong hind legs to help it run quickly. Its front legs were shorter, and it had three large fingers with sharp claws, which were probably used to grab prey or slash at attackers. Did you also notice how many teeth it has? The Allosaurus’s teeth were incredibly sharp, especially in the front of its mouth. While this would help them grab prey, their back teeth were serrated like knives, helping them slice and grind through tough food. They also had really strong jaws to help them chomp!
As the exact appearance of dinosaurs remains uncertain, the images above are provided for illustrative purposes only and have been generated using AI technology.
How big was the Allosaurus?
If you’ve checked out our other articles about big dinosaurs, you might already have an idea of how huge the Allosaurus was! While they weren’t the biggest predator around, they could grow up to 28 feet long and stood about 10 feet tall, which would be like a two-story house as long as a bus! They also had long and muscular tails that helped them balance while running.
The image above is represented in meters (metres)
What did the Allosaurus eat?
As a carnivore, the Allosaurus ate meat. With its sharp teeth and tough jaws, it was built for eating meat and most likely fed on other dinosaurs. The Allosaurus was a fearsome predator and its size and strength made it easy to hunt other dinosaurs. Although it probably wasn’t a picky eater, it’s most likely it fed on smaller herbivores like the Stegosaurus . These dinosaurs were typically much slower and were not well-equipped to fight other dinosaurs, especially a mighty predator like the Allosaurus.
Scientists believe that the Allosaurus was quite clever and was capable of stealthily hiding in the trees, waiting for the right moment to strike with its sharp teeth. Its strong legs would have helped it chase down any dinosaurs that tried to run away, using its clawed arms to grab and hold them. Some believe it might have also hunted in packs, which would have made it an even more formidable predator.
Where did the Allosaurus live?
The Allosaurus lived during the late Jurassic period, which was around 150 million years ago! Back then, the Earth was much warmer and more humid, much like the Amazon rainforest today. The Allosaurus lived in what we now call North America, which was filled with forests and plains at the time. It also had lots of vegetation, which was much bigger than it is today!
While the Allosaurus was a carnivore, the abundance of plants in the area would have meant lots of herbivores were in the area for predators like the Allosaurus to hunt. In particular, Utah and Colorado would have had lots of open, vegetated spaces. With the warm climate and open plains, this would be a great place for the Allosaurus to live and hunt other dinosaurs.
What killed the Allosaurus?
The Allosaurus unfortunately went extinct during the mass extinction event that killed many other dinosaur species. You probably know that this is when a meteor hit the Earth at the end of the Jurassic period, but it’s more likely the dinosaurs died out afterwards. The meteor impact itself likely didn’t cause too much damage to the dinosaurs themselves, but it caused dramatic changes in the climate and atmosphere.
The temperature and overall climate drastically changed and continued to do so rapidly, causing wildfires, tsunamis, and other catastrophic events. Even if the Allosaurus survived these events, it wouldn’t be able to adjust to new climates before they changed again. Many plants also went extinct or were unable to grow, which meant herbivores could no longer hunt, and predators like the Allosaurus had no herbivores to eat.
Facts about Allosaurus
- Although it wasn’t as big as the T. Rex, the Allosaurus might have won in a fight given it would have its pack!
- Its name comes from the Greek words “allos” and “sauros”, which combined means “different lizard”! It was given this name since when it was discovered, scientists thought it was very unique compared to other dinosaurs.
- The Allosaurus was a very fast runner and could probably run up to 25 miles per hour. That’s about as fast as a dog can run! While it doesn’t sound very fast, it was much quicker than many other dinosaurs at the time.
- The Allosaurus was distantly related to the T. Rex, which is why they look so similar!
Closing Summary:
While it might not be as famous as its distant relative, the Allosaurus was still a dominant beast. With its sharp teeth, fast legs, and massive size, it would have been one of the best predators of the Jurassic period. Imagine watching such an incredible creature stomping through trees and fields—What do you think its roar sounded like?
The next time you hear the name Allosaurus, you can show off your roar or flaunt all of the cool facts you know! Make sure you check out our other articles too, and you’ll become a dinosaur pro in no time. Maybe one day, you might be finding fossils like the Allosaurus’s!
Allosaurus Question & Answer Sheet Download
Make learning fun with this Allosaurus Question & Answer Sheet! This printable activity helps kids recall cool facts about this mighty dinosaur, from its sharp teeth to its hunting skills. The questions are engaging and easy to follow, making them perfect for young dino fans.
With the included answer sheet, parents and teachers can check responses quickly. Whether for homeschooling, classroom learning, or just for fun, this activity is a great way to explore the Jurassic world. Download now and start your dino adventure!
