Megalosaurus is a genus of extinct predatory theropod dinosaurs known from Jurassic remains in England. Fossil jaw and limb material from Stonesfield contributed to its early recognition. William Buckland published a description in 1824, before the later name Dinosauria had been introduced. [ref]
Megalosaurus by the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Collection account: Stonesfield material, lower jaw, serrated teeth and the 1824 description
The preserved lower jaw illustrates how specific observations constrain reconstruction. Serrated, blade-like teeth support a meat-eating interpretation, while imaging can reveal replacement teeth hidden within the bone. A fossil specimen and a complete life reconstruction contain different amounts of direct evidence: posture, missing anatomy and evolutionary relationships require comparisons beyond the isolated jaw.
Articles by others on the same topic
There are currently no matching articles.