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Megalosaurus
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Megalosaurus was a carnivore (meat-eater) that lived in
Europe
(including
France
Portugal,
and southern England),
during the
middle Jurassic period,
between about 181 to 169 million years ago.
Part of Megalosaurus bone was discovered in a quarry in
England in
1676. Although it was correctly identified as the femur from a large animal,
but it was wrongly thought to be the thigh bone of a giant human! Further
discoveries were made in the 19th century, starting from 1815
and acquired by William Buckland.
In 1818, French anatomist, Georges Cuvier, visited, and realized the bones were from
a giant lizard-like creature, and thus in 1824,
Buckland
reported and named the animal in a report entitled
"Notice on the Megalosaurus or Great Fossil Lizard of Stonesfield".
Megalosaurus was in fact the first dinosaur named - in fact it had its name,
even before the word dinosaur existed - the term "dinosauria" was only coined by
Sir Richard Owen in 1842.
Early reconstructions of Megalosaurus (such as the one found at
Dinosaur Court)
tend depict the animal as a heavily-built quadruped (to add to the confusion, some early literature refers to
all dinosaurs found in Europe
as Megalosaurus). We now know however that Megalosaurus was a bipedal carnivore with relatively short
fore limbs.
In addition to fossils of Megalosaurus bones,
scientists have also discovered fossils of trackways (footprints) made by the animal. A replica
of one such trackway can be found on the lawn outside the
Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Megalosaurus was a carnivore (meat-eater) that lived from 181 to 169 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Megalosaurus Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Megalosaurus:
- Megalosaurus was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Megalosaurus" means "big lizard". It was the first dinosaur named, its name being chosen by William Buckland in 1824.
- Megalosaurus was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Megalosaurus was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Megalosaurus was a Theropod - a member of a group of related bipedal dinosaurs that included the ancestors of birds (although Megalosaurus was not itself an ancestor of birds).
- Megalosaurus lived between about 181 million years ago and 169 million years ago, during the Jurassic period.
- Megalosaurus lived in Europe (including England, France, and Portugal).
- Megalosaurus was a carnivore (meat-eater).
- Megalosaurus was about 30 feet (9 meters) long.
- Megalosaurus weighed about 1 ton.
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Megalosaurus Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
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By Nicky Dee
Dragonfly Group
Released: February 1st, 2018
Paperback (32 pages)
 | Lowest Used Price: $9.96*
In Stock.*
*(As of 04:29 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
What's So Special About Megalosaurus?- Manufacturer: Dragonfly Group
- Brand: Dragonfly Group
- ISBN: 0993529364
- EAN: 9780993529368
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Nicky Dee
- Publication Date: February 1st, 2018
- Release Date: February 1st, 2018
Physical Description:- Size: 8.0 Inches by 8.0 Inches by 0.2 Inches
- Weight: 0.5 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Sally Ann Lee
Capstone Press
Released: April 1st, 2015
Hardcover (32 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $6.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 04:29 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Megalosaurus (Little Paleontologist)- Manufacturer: Capstone Press
- Brand: Capstone Press
- ISBNs: 9781491423813, 1491423811
- EAN: 9781491423813
- PartNumber: illustrations
Details:- Hardcover
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Sally Ann Lee
- Publication Date: April 1st, 2015
- Release Date: April 1st, 2015
Physical Description:- Size: 8.99999999082 Inches by 5.99999999388 Inches by 0.37401574765 Inches
- Weight: 0.5 Pounds
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By Allan Chapman
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
Released: October 20th, 2020
Hardcover (320 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $24.00*
Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.*
*(As of 04:29 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Caves, Coprolites and Catastrophes: The Story of Pioneering Geologist and Fossil-Hunter William Buckland- Manufacturer: SPCK
- Brand: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
- ISBN: 0281079501
- EAN: 9780281079506
Details:- Hardcover
- Number of Pages: 320
- Author: Allan Chapman
- Publication Date: October 20th, 2020
- Release Date: October 20th, 2020
Physical Description:- Size: 6.45668 Inches by 9.48817 Inches by 1.25984 Inches
- Weight: 1.60055602212 Pounds
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By Laura Alden
The Childs World Inc
Released: September 1st, 1990
Library Binding (32 pages)
 | List Price: $21.36*
Lowest New Price: $19.99*
In Stock.*
*(As of 04:29 Pacific 25 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Megalosaurus : Dinosaurs Series- Manufacturer: The Childs World Inc
- ISBN: 0895656299
- EAN: 9780895656292
Details:- Product Category: Library Binding
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Laura Alden
- Publication Date: September 1st, 1990
- Release Date: September 1st, 1990
Physical Description:- Size: 10.5 Inches by 8.5 Inches by 0.5 Inches
- Weight: 0.6 Pounds
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