Key Information
Monolophosaurus
| Species | Monolophosaurus jiangi |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Length | 16 to 18 ft (possibly longer) |
| Height | 4 to 5 ft |
| Weight | 1,050 lb |
| Timescale | Middle Jurassic |
| Classification | Saurischia > Theropoda > Tetanurae |
Learning Point
- Monolophosaurus was a carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived in China during the Middle Jurassic period, around 170 million years ago. It is immediately recognizable by the unique, hollow, bony crest that runs along the top of its snout. Growing up to 18 feet long, this dinosaur was likely a quick and agile hunter. Palaeontologists believe its distinctive crest was primarily used for display—perhaps to attract mates or signal to other rivals—rather than for fighting or hunting.
Project
- Draw a picture of Monolophosaurus in its natural habitat.
- Overview
- X-Ray
Location
| Confirmed | Xinjiang, China |
Fun Facts
- The name Monolophosaurus means “single-crested lizard” in Greek due to the crest on its skull.
- It is famous for the single, thin crest that runs right down the middle of its head, from its nose to the back of its skull!
- The big crest on its head was actually hollow! This made the crest lighter so the dinosaur didn’t have to carry extra weight while hunting.
- When paleontologists first discovered Monolophosaurus in the 1980s, they found a very complete skeleton—including the skull—which gives us a fantastic picture of what it looked like.
Past Lessons
| 215 | December 15, 2025 | (North America) |