| Saurophaganax Temporal range: Late Jurassic | |
|---|---|
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| An artist's illustration of Saurophaganax maximus as a theropod by Sergestus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Sauropoda? |
| Family: | †Diplodocidae? |
| Genus: | †Saurophaganax Chure, 1995 |
| Species: | †S. maximus |
| Type species | |
| †Saurophaganax maximus Chure, 1995 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Saurophaganax (meaning lord of lizard eaters) is a dubious genus of Saurischian dinosaur, either an Allosauroid theropod or Diplodocid Sauropod, from the Morrison formation, from Late Jurassic. Generally, it has been classified directly as an Allosaurid, but some studies have challenged this placement and suggested that it could potentially be a type of Metriacanthosaurid; albeit it remains uncertain. In 2024, a study questioned its placement as a Theropod and found that it is likely chimeric with many fossils belonging to different genera (some from 2 species of sauropods & the others to a new species of Allosaurus: A. anax), while the holotype (dorsal neural arch) vertebra is so fragmentary, the researchers couldn't confidently refer it to a theropod or sauropod, so they considered Saurophaganax maximus to be a nomen dubium[1].
Discovery and Naming[]
In 1931 and 1932 John Willis Stovall uncovered remains of a holotype (OMNH 4666). In 1941, it was named Saurophagus maximus. Later it was discovered that the name was preoccupied. In 1995, Daniel Chure named it as Saurophaganax. The generic name combines sauros and Phagein. The specific name is maximus, meaning the largest in Latin. Later, The latin suffix anax was added to the specific name.
Mounted Saurophaganax specimen.
Disputed validity[]
The identification of Saurophaganax is a matter of dispute. It has been described as its own genus, or as a species of Allosaurus - Allosaurus maximus. New possible Saurophaganax material from New Mexico may clear up the status of the genus. However, the most recently conducted research establishes Saurophaganax as a different taxon, due to distinctions in the anatomy of the vertebrae. , but in 2024 it was reclassified as Saurischia Incertae sedisas, with the holotype most likely a Diplodocoid sauropod, and the allosaur material was reclassified as a species of Allosaurus, Allosaurus anax.
Saurophaganax Skeletal model. Work by: fadeno
Saurophaganax as depicted in the BBC TV show Planet Dinosaurs.
Description[]
If it is a theropod, then it is the largest theropod found in Morrison Formation. Estimates show that it reached a length between 10.6 to 14.01 meters (34 - 41 ft) and weighted around 2.7–3.8 tonnes (3.0–4.2 tons) in mass.
Paleoenvironment[]
It lived alongside with Allosaurus, Haplocanthosaurus,Camptosaurus,and many other species of dinosaurs and other animals.
In popular culture[]
- Saurophaganax appeared in a few episodes of the anime show Dinosaur King. Including the 2nd Season.
- It also appeared in its first dinosaur documentary in the fourth episode of Planet Dinosaur, where one stole a carcass of a Camptosaurus from an Allosaurus who hunted it.
- It is planned to appear as an alternative species skin for the Allosaurus in Prehistoric Kingdom.
- It also appears in the remake of the ROBLOX game Era of Terror, though it’s incorrectly called allosaurus.
- A group of S. maximus are characters in the webcomic Morrison by Wyatt Andrews. They are referred to as “Titan Allosaurs”
- Saurophaganax appears in the ROBLOX game Prior Extinction, being a playable carnivore since the 'Jurassic' Update
Other Wikis[]
https://prehistoric-wiki.fandom.com/wiki/Saurophaganax
References[]
- https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/saurophaganax.html
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Skeleton-of-Saurophaganax-with-bones-known-from-Peterson-quarry-darker-shade-and_fig9_284450467
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272151969_A_morphometric_analysis_of_Allosaurus
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/296022663_A_NEW_LARGE-BODIED_THEROPOD_DINOSAUR_FROM_THE_UPPER_MORRISON_FORMATION_LATE_JURASSIC_TITHONIAN_OF_COLORADO
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341693059_High_frequencies_of_theropod_bite_marks_provide_evidence_for_feeding_scavenging_and_possible_cannibalism_in_a_stressed_Late_Jurassic_ecosystem
- https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4967061.html
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-comedy-of-dinosaur-errors-8396256/
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel-Chure/publication/230892243_A_reassessment_of_the_gigantic_theropod_Saurophagus_maximus_from_the_Morrison_Formation_Upper_Jurassic_of_Oklahoma_USA/links/54808f3f0cf22525dcb5f4a1/A-reassessment-of-the-gigantic-theropod-Saurophagus-maximus-from-the-Morrison-Formation-Upper-Jurassic-of-Oklahoma-USA.pdf
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.1998.10011039
- https://www.deviantart.com/randomdinos/art/Saurophaganax-maximus-skeletal-reconstruction-878546129
- http://snomnhcollections.azurewebsites.net/VertebratePaleontology
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0aGEUlfiHY&t=1063s