Ceratosaurus dentisulcatus

Overview

Ceratosaurus dentisulcatus is a smaller species of the famous horned dinosaur Ceratosaurus, living approximately 150-145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic. While its larger cousin C. nasicornis gets most of the attention, this nimble predator carved out its own niche as a quick, agile hunter in the ancient forests of North America.

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Taxonomy & Classification

• Clade: Theropoda
• Family: Ceratosauridae
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Locomotion: Bipedal

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Physical Characteristics

Size & Build

• Length: 3.5-4 meters (11.5-13 feet)
• Weight: Estimated 200-400 kg
• Build: Lighter and more agile than C. nasicornis

Species Differences

Compared to C. nasicornis:

• Smaller overall size
• Different tooth structure (serrated differently)
• Species name means "grooved tooth"
• More specialized for smaller prey

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A Different Hunter

Ecological Niche

C. dentisulcatus likely:

• Hunted smaller, faster prey
• Was more agile than its larger cousin
• Avoided competition with big Allosaurus
• Filled a different predator role in the ecosystem

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Two Species of Ceratosaurus

Feature	C. nasicornis	C. dentisulcatus
Length	6-8m	3.5-4m
Horn	Large	Smaller
Teeth	Standard	Distinctive grooves
Prey	Varied	Smaller animals

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Cool Facts

• The species name "dentisulcatus" means "grooved tooth"
• It was about half the size of C. nasicornis
• Both species lived in the same time and place
• Shows dinosaurs could specialize to avoid competition
• Still had the family's signature nose horn

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Ceratosaurus dentisulcatus proves that even horned hunters came in different sizes—a nimble predator that found success by going small in a world of giants!