Altispinax is a type of large, meat-eating dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 140 to 133 million years ago. Its fossils were found in the Wadhurst Clay Formation in East Sussex, England.
Let’s break down what we know about Altispinax:
**History of Discovery**
In the early 1850s, a fossil collector named Samuel Husbands Beckles found dinosaur bones in a quarry near Battle, East Sussex. He sent the fossils to a well-known scientist named Richard Owen, who examined them and first reported them in 1856. Owen thought these bones belonged to another dinosaur called Megalosaurus. The fossils included three back bones with very tall spikes.
Over time, many scientists studied these bones. In 1923, a researcher named Friedrich von Huene decided to create a new name for the dinosaur based on these unique bones, calling it Altispinax, which means “with high spines”.
**Naming Confusion**
Over the years, there was some confusion about the name Altispinax. Some researchers thought it might just be another name for another dinosaur called Megalosaurus dunkeri. However, later studies revealed that they were actually two different dinosaurs, which helped clarify that Altispinax dunkeri is the correct name for the dinosaur based on the tall spined bones.
**Description**
Altispinax was a large dinosaur, and its bones were quite striking. The back vertebrae had spine heights of about thirty-five centimeters, which is very tall for dinosaur bones. Some experts think these spines may have helped in displaying itself or maybe even for defense.
The dinosaur likely weighed around one tonne and measured around 8 meters long, which is about 26 feet.
**Classification**
Altispinax belongs to a group of dinosaurs known as theropods, which includes many of the well-known predatory dinosaurs. Scientists have different opinions about exactly where Altispinax fits among theropods, with some classifying it in more specific family groups than others. Overall, there is still a lot to learn about this fascinating dinosaur!
In summary, Altispinax was an impressive dinosaur that once roamed England, and studying its unique features helps us understand the variety of life that existed during the age of dinosaurs.