Acrocanthosaurus, meaning “high-spined lizard,” was a formidable predatory dinosaur that roamed North America during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 113 to 110 million years ago. This bipedal carnivore was among the largest theropods of its time, with some individuals reaching lengths of 11 to 11.5 meters (36 to 38 feet) and weighing between 4.4 and 8.4 metric tons. Its most recognizable feature was a series of tall neural spines along its neck, back, and hips, which likely supported a thick, muscular ridge.
Major Discovery Locations
The primary fossil evidence for Acrocanthosaurus has been unearthed across several states in North America. The initial discoveries occurred in the early 1940s in Oklahoma, specifically within the Antlers Formation of Atoka County. These first finds included two partial skeletons and skull material, providing the foundational understanding of this dinosaur.
Further significant remains in Texas provided substantial anatomical knowledge. The Twin Mountains Formation in northern Texas yielded a partial skeleton in the 1990s, while large theropod footprints, likely Acrocanthosaurus footprints, have been preserved in the Glen Rose Formation along the Paluxy River. These trackways offer insights into its movements and prey interactions. Additionally, fragmentary remains and teeth consistent with Acrocanthosaurus have been reported from the Arundel Formation in Maryland, suggesting a wider geographic distribution across both western and eastern North America.
Reconstructing Its Ancient World
The environments where Acrocanthosaurus fossils are found reveal a picture of Early Cretaceous North America as a landscape of vast floodplains and river systems. The Antlers and Twin Mountains formations, where many specimens were discovered, represent terrestrial deposits from this period. The climate was generally warm and humid, supporting lush vegetation and diverse ecosystems.
Acrocanthosaurus existed as an apex predator within these habitats, preying on other large dinosaurs. Fossil evidence from the same formations indicates it coexisted with large long-necked sauropods like Sauroposeidon and plant-eating ornithopods such as Tenontosaurus. Smaller theropods like Deinonychus also shared this environment, though they likely did not compete directly with Acrocanthosaurus due to size differences. The presence of Acrocanthosaurus in both western and eastern North America suggests it adapted to a range of these fluvial and coastal plain settings.
Major Discovery Locations
The primary fossil evidence for Acrocanthosaurus has been unearthed across several states in North America. The initial discoveries occurred in the early 1940s in Oklahoma, specifically within the Antlers Formation of Atoka County. These first finds included two partial skeletons and skull material, providing the foundational understanding of this dinosaur.
Further significant remains in Texas provided substantial anatomical knowledge. The Twin Mountains Formation in northern Texas yielded a partial skeleton in the 1990s, while large theropod footprints, likely Acrocanthosaurus footprints, have been preserved in the Glen Rose Formation along the Paluxy River. These trackways offer insights into its movements and prey interactions. Additionally, fragmentary remains and teeth consistent with Acrocanthosaurus have been reported from the Arundel Formation in Maryland, suggesting a wider geographic distribution across both western and eastern North America.
Reconstructing Its Ancient World
The environments where Acrocanthosaurus fossils are found reveal a picture of Early Cretaceous North America as a landscape of vast floodplains and river systems. The Antlers and Twin Mountains formations, where many specimens were discovered, represent terrestrial deposits from this period. The climate was generally warm and humid, supporting lush vegetation and diverse ecosystems.
Acrocanthosaurus existed as an apex predator within these habitats, preying on other large dinosaurs. Fossil evidence from the same formations indicates it coexisted with large long-necked sauropods like Sauroposeidon and plant-eating ornithopods such as Tenontosaurus. Smaller theropods like Deinonychus also shared this environment, though they likely did not compete directly with Acrocanthosaurus due to size differences. The presence of Acrocanthosaurus in both western and eastern North America suggests it adapted to a range of these fluvial and coastal plain settings.
Major Discovery Locations
The primary fossil evidence for Acrocanthosaurus has been unearthed across several states in North America. The initial discoveries occurred in the early 1940s in Oklahoma, specifically within the Antlers Formation of Atoka County. These first finds included two partial skeletons and skull material, providing the foundational understanding of this dinosaur.
Further significant remains in Texas provided substantial anatomical knowledge. The Twin Mountains Formation in northern Texas yielded a partial skeleton in the 1990s, while large theropod footprints, likely Acrocanthosaurus footprints, have been preserved in the Glen Rose Formation along the Paluxy River. These trackways offer insights into its movements and prey interactions. Additionally, fragmentary remains and teeth consistent with Acrocanthosaurus have been reported from the Arundel Formation in Maryland, suggesting a wider geographic distribution across both western and eastern North America.
Reconstructing Its Ancient World
The environments where Acrocanthosaurus fossils are found reveal a picture of Early Cretaceous North America as a landscape of vast floodplains and river systems. The Antlers and Twin Mountains formations, where many specimens were discovered, represent terrestrial deposits from this period. The climate was generally warm and humid, supporting lush vegetation and diverse ecosystems.
Acrocanthosaurus existed as an apex predator within these habitats, preying on other large dinosaurs. Fossil evidence from the same formations indicates it coexisted with large long-necked sauropods like Sauroposeidon and plant-eating ornithopods such as Tenontosaurus. Smaller theropods like Deinonychus also shared this environment, though they likely did not compete directly with Acrocanthosaurus due to size differences. The presence of Acrocanthosaurus in both western and eastern North America suggests it adapted to a range of these fluvial and coastal plain settings.