Dilophosaurus

dinosaur · Early Jurassic · predator

Two-crested lizard. Its name means 'two-crested lizard' because it had a pair of bony crests on top of its head. Scientists think the crests might have been for showing off to other dinosaurs.

Super ancient. Dilophosaurus lived about 186 million years ago in the Early Jurassic, long before famous dinosaurs like T. rex appeared.

Found in Arizona. Three skeletons were discovered in northern Arizona in 1940, and the best ones were collected in 1942.

A naming journey. It was first thought to be a kind of Megalosaurus, but in 1970 scientist Samuel Welles realized its crests made it special and gave it its own name.

Baby and footprints. Scientists have even found an infant Dilophosaurus and fossil footprints, including marks where the dinosaur rested on the ground.