[D] Metriacanthosaurus parkeri [Sa] [sG] [T]
Describer
Walker, 1964
Time
Jurassic Late Oxfordian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Spinosauridae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Corallian Oolite Formation, Dorset, England
Length
8 meter
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Sail
Metricanthosaurus parkeri (Walker, 1964) = Megalosaurus parkeri (Huene, 1923)
Partial postcranial skeleton. Illustration: This monotypic genus is represented by the species, Metricanthosaurus parkeri = Megalosaurus parkeri (Huene, 1923), known from a single specimen. The specimen consists of dorsals, caudals, an ilium, fragmentary ischium and pubis, a femur, and a proximal tibia. Metricanthosaurus parkeri has been described as having elongate dorsal neural spines. Although unlike those of Altispinax, they are not substantially longer than those of Allosaurus fragilis. Autapomorphies are the angled dorsal iliac margin and the distinct lateral ridge of the proximal part of the ischium.
Spinosaurids (\\\\\\\"spine reptiles\\\\\\\") are the group of relatively tall-spined theropods. They include such forms as Altispinax and Metriacanthosaurus The family was founded on the remains of Spinosaurus which come from the Late Cretaceous of Niger and Egypt (Africa). The original material is agian somewhat incomplete, including parts of the jaw, and some neck, back and tail vertebrae.