**Appalachiosaurus: A Dinosaur from the Past**
Appalachiosaurus was a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 77 million years ago.
This dinosaur was found in what we now call eastern North America, especially in central Alabama and parts of North Carolina and Georgia.
The name “Appalachiosaurus” means “Appalachian lizard.” It was named after the Appalachian Mountains, where it was discovered.
The scientific name for the only known species is Appalachiosaurus montgomeriensis. This name honors Montgomery County in Alabama, where the first fossil was found.
**Size and Features**
The fossils we have are from a young Appalachiosaurus, which was about 6.5 meters long, or around 21 feet. It likely weighed around 623 kilograms, or 1,373 pounds.
Since we only have the remains of a young dinosaur, scientists believe that adult Appalachiosaurus would have been much larger.
The fossils include parts of the skull, lower jaw, vertebrae, pelvis, and legs. Some bones show that it had unique features. For instance, it had a row of low crests on its snout, which is similar to another dinosaur named Alioramus.
**Discovery**
The first fossils were discovered in July 1982 by a geologist named David King from Auburn University.
Paleontologists Thomas Carr and Thomas Williamson officially named Appalachiosaurus in 2005.
**Special Traits and Fossils**
The arms of Appalachiosaurus are not well-known. Early drawings showed it had long arms with three fingers, but now scientists think the arms were shorter and had only two fingers.
Currently, the known fossils are kept at the McWane Science Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
**Diet and Lifestyle**
Appalachiosaurus was a predator, meaning it hunted other animals for food. Its strong bite could exert force similar to that of large modern predators today.
Interestingly, one of its tail vertebrae shows signs of healing from a possible injury.
In summary, Appalachiosaurus gives us a glimpse into the diverse world of dinosaurs that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. It is a remarkable example of the early relatives of famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex.