Sinosaurus

Sinosaurus was named by the famous Chinese paleontologist Chung Chien Young in 1940, who is called the 'Father of Chinese Vertebrate Paleontology'.1

Its skull was about 52 centimeters (20 inches) long, similar in size to the skull of Dilophosaurus.1

Sinosaurus had a deep notch in its upper jaw that might have held a narrow, hooked beak for tearing open skin and flesh.1

Its teeth were curved backwards and had fine serrations on both edges, like a steak knife.1

Scientists think Sinosaurus was a fast runner because of its body shape and the ratio of its skull to body length.1

Some fossils of Sinosaurus were originally thought to be from the Triassic period, but they are actually from the Early Jurassic, about 201 to 183 million years ago.1

A nearly complete skeleton of Sinosaurus was once thought to be a species of Dilophosaurus, but scientists later moved it to Sinosaurus.1