Appalachiosaurus

Name: Appalachiosaurus (Appalachian lizard).
Phonetic: Ah-pah-lay-chee-oh-sore-us.
Named By: Thomas Carr, Thomas Williamson & David Schwimmer - 2005.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Tyrannosauroidea.
Species: A. montgomeriensis (type).
Type: Carnivore.
Size: Juvenile specimen about 6.5 to 7 meters long. Fully grown adults likely larger.
Known locations: USA, Alabama, Demopolis Chalk Formation, North Carolina - Donoho Creek Formation, Tar Heel/Coachman Formation..
Time period: Campanian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Described from a partial skeleton of a juvenile. Remains of additional individuals now known.

       When Appalachiosaurus was first discovered it raised more than a few eyebrows because it was discovered in the Eastern United States. Up until that point only one other genus of tyrannosaur named Dryptosaurus had been found in the eastern half of the USA.
       The one specimen of Appalachiosaurus appears to have been a juvenile, and this is indicated by open sutures between the bones of the skull. As Appalachiosaurus grew into an adult they would have fused, ceasing any further growth. Although Appalachiosaurus is thought to have been similar to Albertosaurus, it actually has a distinctive feature of six low crest lines across its snout. This feature is also seen in the Asian tyrannosaurid Alioramus.
       A very exciting feature of the Appalachiosaurus specimen are tooth marks thought to have been made by the giant crocodile Deinosuchus. This injury also shows signs of healing indicating that the Appalachiosaurus survived the assault.

Further reading
- A new genus and species of tyrannosauroid from the Late Cretaceous (middle Campanian) Demopolis Formation of Alabama". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 25 (1): 119–143 - T. D. Carr, T. E. Williamson & D. R. Schwimmer - 2005.
- Comparison of the Functional Morphology of Appalachiosaurus and Albertosaurus - The Open Geology Journal 6: p. 65-71. - T. J Lane & L. Lane - 2012.
- The biogeography and ecology of the Cretaceous non-avian dinosaurs of Appalachia. - Palaeontologia Electronica. 21 (1): 1–56. - Chase D. Brownstein - 2018.

Random favourites