New Species Of Carnivorous Dinosaur Discovered In Utah

Paleontologists have announced that a new species of dinosaur has been discovered in Utah. The new species is named Allosaurus jimmadseni and was discovered in Dinosaur National Monument in Utah in the early '90s. The new species is a meat-eater, according to scientists. The team estimates that the dino was about 26 to 29 feet long.Allosaurus jimmadseni weighs about 4000 pounds. The scientists say that the dino roamed North America 157 million to 152 million years ago and is the oldest species of Allosaurus. The latter portion of the name "Allosaurus jimmadseni" is meant to honor Utah State Paleontologist James H. Madsen Jr.

Scientists previously thought there was only a single species of Allosaurus in Jurassic North America, but this study shows two species. The new Allosaurus jimmadseni evolved at least 5 million years earlier than its cousin, Allosaurus fragilis. The team says that the skull of the new dinosaur is more lightly built than Allosaurus fragilis, and that suggests a different feeding behavior.

Scientists say that the dinosaur was two-legged and had about 80 sharp teeth and horns over its eyes. When the dinosaur was discovered, only the body was found. It had to be extracted from the rock with explosives, and then a massive chunk of rock with the skeleton inside was transported by helicopter.

The head was discovered later, not far from the body, and extracted. The team says that the dinosaur was a big carnivore and that it had a crest that ran from the horns to its nose, and each of its long arms ended in three sharp claws. The namesake of the dinosaur was chosen because of James Madesn Jr.s "herculean efforts" of protecting the excavation of many thousands of Allosaurus bones.