Results from the Hanson Formation #paleostream! The formation brought us Cryolophosaurus but many specimens still await description, the result is that I added here way more animals without a name and payed somewhat more attention to the flora.
cryolophosaurus ellioti - neotheropod - early jurassic
one of the largest theropods of its time, cryolphosaurus was found in antarctica of all places! these handsomely crested fellows were found in an area that would've been well above sea level- 4,000 meters- where nights were likely below freezing. its existence supports the idea that jurassic antarctica likely had forests with diverse wildlife, living alongside basal sauropodomorphs and various synapsids in its lifetime.
higher resolution version under the cut!
More practice with the charcoal and pencil brushes - I’ve had a cryolophosaurus as my icon for literally years, so I think it’s well past time I actually drew one! I’m really proud of the detailing on the head.
What: A crested theropod in the neotheropoda clade, which also includes Dilophosaurus and Dracovenator
When: Early Jurassic, Hanson Formation
Where: Central Transatlantic Mountains in Antarctica
Fun fact!: Cryolophosaurus is one of six dinosaur species discovered on Antarctica!
Why are they cool?: Like all dilophosaurids it possessed some impressive head gear, in C. ellioti this crest is formed from an elongation of the lacrimals (one of the bones in face near the orbits) and nasal bones. The purpose of these crests is still debated and with low sample sizes, difficult to dicern. Some theories include: sexual dimorphism (a difference between males and females) or recognition of species/display function.
Image Credits: (Left: Pablo Pastori Right: M. Cross)
They might have originally been named for Elvis?? I swear I read that somewhere. But noooooooo they had to give it a misleading name bc they found it in Antarctica.