{"product_id":"teratophoneus-curriei","title":"Teratophoneus curriei","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"92\" data-end=\"755\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"92\" data-end=\"117\"\u003eTeratophoneus curriei\u003c\/strong\u003e was a tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur belonging to the subfamily Tyrannosaurinae, a large and robust predator that inhabited North America during the \u003cstrong data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"294\"\u003eLate Cretaceous\u003c\/strong\u003e, specifically in the \u003cstrong data-start=\"316\" data-end=\"338\"\u003elate Campanian\u003c\/strong\u003e, approximately \u003cstrong data-start=\"361\" data-end=\"391\"\u003e76.5–75.5 million years ago\u003c\/strong\u003e, in what is now southern Utah, United States. Its name literally means \u003cstrong data-start=\"475\" data-end=\"499\"\u003e“monster murderer”\u003c\/strong\u003e, derived from the Greek \u003cem data-start=\"521\" data-end=\"528\"\u003eteras\u003c\/em\u003e (“monster”) and \u003cem data-start=\"544\" data-end=\"553\"\u003ephoneus\u003c\/em\u003e (“murderer”), while the epithet \u003cem data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"600\"\u003ecurriei\u003c\/em\u003e honors Canadian paleontologist Philip J. Currie. It was formally described in 2011 by Thomas Carr and colleagues. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"puvwlg\" data-start=\"757\" data-end=\"787\"\u003eDimensions and proportions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"789\" data-end=\"984\"\u003eAlthough related to later giants such as \u003cem data-start=\"838\" data-end=\"857\"\u003eTyrannosaurus rex\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"880\"\u003eTarbosaurus bataar\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"882\" data-end=\"897\"\u003eTeratophoneus\u003c\/em\u003e was somewhat smaller and anatomically more compact. Known specimens suggest:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"986\" data-end=\"1130\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"yg4v02\" data-start=\"986\" data-end=\"1043\"\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"988\" data-end=\"1008\"\u003eAdult length:\u003c\/strong\u003e approximately \u003cstrong data-start=\"1025\" data-end=\"1043\"\u003e7.5–8.7 meters\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"sfwn99\" data-start=\"1044\" data-end=\"1090\"\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1046\" data-end=\"1064\"\u003eEstimated weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e between \u003cstrong data-start=\"1071\" data-end=\"1090\"\u003e1–2.5 tons\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"jzxx4n\" data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1130\"\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1093\" data-end=\"1116\"\u003eHip height:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~2–2.5 meters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1132\" data-end=\"1370\"\u003eThe first remains corresponded to a subadult individual, initially estimated at about 6 meters, but later findings showed that adults reached considerably larger sizes. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"pcmlwi\" data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1427\"\u003eAnatomy: a short-snouted, powerful tyrannosaur\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1429\" data-end=\"1905\"\u003eOne of the most distinctive features of \u003cem data-start=\"1475\" data-end=\"1490\"\u003eTeratophoneus\u003c\/em\u003e was its \u003cstrong data-start=\"1498\" data-end=\"1543\"\u003eproportionately short and deep skull\u003c\/strong\u003e, unlike the more elongated snout of forms like \u003cem data-start=\"1593\" data-end=\"1608\"\u003eAlbertosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e. Compared to other tyrannosaurids, it had a compressed snout and a robust facial region, probably optimized to generate an \u003cstrong data-start=\"1744\" data-end=\"1779\"\u003eextremely powerful bite\u003c\/strong\u003e over short distances. This gave it a particularly massive and compact cranial profile. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1907\" data-end=\"1967\"\u003eIts body anatomy was typical of a large tyrannosaurid:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"2242\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"17i9ifq\" data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"1997\"\u003eLarge, muscular head.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1mqs6vg\" data-start=\"1998\" data-end=\"2030\"\u003eThick, S-shaped neck.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"go7cuj\" data-start=\"2031\" data-end=\"2091\"\u003eExtremely reduced arms with two functional fingers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"qn01zi\" data-start=\"2092\" data-end=\"2183\"\u003eLong, muscular hind limbs adapted for relatively fast locomotion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"cmwxoz\" data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2242\"\u003eRigid, heavy tail used as a dynamic counterbalance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2244\" data-end=\"2397\"\u003eAlthough it did not reach the massive bulk of \u003cem data-start=\"2285\" data-end=\"2293\"\u003eT. rex\u003c\/em\u003e, it was a predator clearly specialized in strength and power. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1b2elny\" data-start=\"2399\" data-end=\"2437\"\u003eDentition and predatory strategy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2439\" data-end=\"2481\"\u003eLike other tyrannosaurids, it possessed teeth:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2483\" data-end=\"2601\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1axs5al\" data-start=\"2483\" data-end=\"2497\"\u003eVery thick.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"do8tsb\" data-start=\"2498\" data-end=\"2521\"\u003eStrongly serrated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"10c9eva\" data-start=\"2522\" data-end=\"2601\"\u003eDesigned more for \u003cstrong data-start=\"2543\" data-end=\"2572\"\u003ecrushing and tearing flesh\u003c\/strong\u003e than for clean cutting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2603\" data-end=\"2968\"\u003eIts bite was probably adapted to partially fracture bones and exert enormous pressure on large prey. More than an extremely fast hunter, \u003cem data-start=\"2771\" data-end=\"2786\"\u003eTeratophoneus\u003c\/em\u003e must have behaved as a \u003cstrong data-start=\"2813\" data-end=\"2850\"\u003epowerful ambush predator\u003c\/strong\u003e, using short accelerations and violent attacks against large herbivores. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"pcpzi6\" data-start=\"2970\" data-end=\"3003\"\u003ePossible social behavior\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3005\" data-end=\"3540\"\u003eOne of the most interesting aspects of \u003cem data-start=\"3045\" data-end=\"3060\"\u003eTeratophoneus\u003c\/em\u003e is the evidence of possible \u003cstrong data-start=\"3091\" data-end=\"3127\"\u003egregarious or social behavior\u003c\/strong\u003e. A site in Utah was discovered with remains of \u003cstrong data-start=\"3178\" data-end=\"3216\"\u003e4–5 individuals of different ages\u003c\/strong\u003e apparently killed in the same event. This finding suggests that, at least occasionally, \u003cem data-start=\"3311\" data-end=\"3326\"\u003eTeratophoneus\u003c\/em\u003e may have moved or fed in groups, something also proposed for other tyrannosaurids like \u003cem data-start=\"3423\" data-end=\"3438\"\u003eAlbertosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"3441\" data-end=\"3457\"\u003eDaspletosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e. However, it remains a debated topic. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1stsqoc\" data-start=\"3542\" data-end=\"3559\"\u003ePaleoenvironment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3561\" data-end=\"3809\"\u003eIt lived in the \u003cstrong data-start=\"3573\" data-end=\"3598\"\u003eKaiparowits Formation\u003c\/strong\u003e, an ecosystem very different from the arid modern-day Utah. During the Campanian, this region was part of \u003cstrong data-start=\"3702\" data-end=\"3715\"\u003eLaramidia\u003c\/strong\u003e, a large continental island separated by the Western Interior Seaway. The environment consisted of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"3811\" data-end=\"3928\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"c229wr\" data-start=\"3811\" data-end=\"3840\"\u003eHumid riverine plains.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"oe8thr\" data-start=\"3841\" data-end=\"3861\"\u003ePeat swamps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1t5fzu4\" data-start=\"3862\" data-end=\"3889\"\u003eDense riparian forests.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1iedugg\" data-start=\"3890\" data-end=\"3928\"\u003eLakes and large channel systems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3930\" data-end=\"4066\"\u003eThe climate was warm, humid, and highly productive, supporting enormous biodiversity of dinosaurs. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1szcmay\" data-start=\"4068\" data-end=\"4104\"\u003eAssociated fauna and potential prey\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4106\" data-end=\"4236\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"4106\" data-end=\"4121\"\u003eTeratophoneus\u003c\/em\u003e shared its ecosystem with some of the most spectacular dinosaurs of the North American Campanian, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"4238\" data-end=\"4485\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1j40yc5\" data-start=\"4238\" data-end=\"4277\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eKosmoceratops richardsoni\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"4w1vzp\" data-start=\"4278\" data-end=\"4317\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eUtahceratops gettyi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"yuzy45\" data-start=\"4318\" data-end=\"4359\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eGryposaurus monumentensis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1flqygl\" data-start=\"4360\" data-end=\"4401\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eParasaurolophus cyrtocristatus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"rwywvp\" data-start=\"4402\" data-end=\"4443\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eTalos sampsoni\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"18npx85\" data-start=\"4444\" data-end=\"4485\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eHagryphus giganteus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4487\" data-end=\"4634\"\u003eIts main prey likely included juvenile hadrosaurs and medium-sized or weakened ceratopsians. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"mmflps\" data-start=\"4636\" data-end=\"4661\"\u003eEvolutionary importance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4663\" data-end=\"5245\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"4663\" data-end=\"4686\"\u003eTeratophoneus curriei\u003c\/em\u003e is particularly important because it represents an early stage in the evolution of large western North American \u003cstrong data-start=\"4783\" data-end=\"4802\"\u003etyrannosaurinae\u003c\/strong\u003e. Phylogenetically, it appears close to forms such as \u003cem data-start=\"4880\" data-end=\"4891\"\u003eLythronax\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"4894\" data-end=\"4908\"\u003eDynamoterror\u003c\/em\u003e, positioning itself evolutionarily between more primitive tyrannosaurids like \u003cem data-start=\"4977\" data-end=\"4993\"\u003eDaspletosaurus\u003c\/em\u003e and later giants like \u003cem data-start=\"5018\" data-end=\"5037\"\u003eTyrannosaurus rex\u003c\/em\u003e. Its anatomy suggests that many iconic traits of \u003cem data-start=\"5089\" data-end=\"5097\"\u003eT. rex\u003c\/em\u003e —a deep skull, powerful bite, and robust build— were already evolving millions of years earlier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate measurements of Teratophoneus:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cspan\u003eComplete 1:35 Scale\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength 208 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight 79 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cspan\u003eWidth 40 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cspan\u003eSnout-to-tail length 229 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Miniature Museum","offers":[{"title":"1:35 \/ Unprimed","offer_id":54812346614028,"sku":"DC-1413-135-SINI","price":47.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Primed","offer_id":54812346646796,"sku":"DC-1413-135-IMPRI","price":54.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"1:35 \/ Hand-painted","offer_id":54812346679564,"sku":"DC-1413-135-PINTA","price":155.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/1106\/7660\/files\/Teratophoneus_3.jpg?v=1780245500","url":"https:\/\/dinosauriacreatures.com\/en\/products\/teratophoneus-curriei","provider":"Dinosauria Creatures","version":"1.0","type":"link"}