Dubreuillosaurus valesdunensis

Overview

Dubreuillosaurus was a coastal predator from the Middle Jurassic period, about 167 million years ago. Found in what is now Normandy, France, this unusual dinosaur had a remarkably long, low skull—three times longer than it was tall! It likely hunted along ancient shorelines where mangrove swamps met the sea.

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Taxonomy & Classification

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

Dubreuillosaurus was a megalosaurid—related to the famous first-named dinosaur Megalosaurus!

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Physical Characteristics

Medium-Sized Predator

• Length: 5-9 meters (16-30 feet)—known specimen was a juvenile
• Weight: 250-500 kg (550-1,100 lbs)
• Height: About 1.5 meters (5 feet) at hip
• Build: Lightweight and agile

The Unusual Skull

• Very long and very low profile
• Three times longer than it was tall!
• Unlike most theropods with taller skulls
• May have been adapted for snatching fish
• Similar to crocodiles in some ways

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A Coastal Hunter

Living by the Sea

Dubreuillosaurus lived in a special environment:

• Mangrove swamps along coastlines
• Shallow, warm seas nearby
• Mix of land and marine prey available
• Similar to Florida Everglades today

What It Ate

The long, low skull suggests:

• Fish from coastal waters
• Small marine reptiles
• Land animals near the shore
• Possibly a generalist predator

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Discovery

Found in Normandy

• Discovered in Normandy, France
• Named in 2005 by paleontologist Ronan Allain
• Named for the Dubreuil family (local landowners)
• Species name means "from Vieux-du-Vales" (discovery location)
• The specimen was a juvenile—adults were larger!

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Megalosaurid Family

European Predators

Dubreuillosaurus was related to:

• Megalosaurus (the first dinosaur named)
• Torvosaurus (large European hunter)
• Eustreptospondylus (coastal predator)

Megalosaurids were the dominant predators in Jurassic Europe!

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Jurassic France

167 Million Years Ago

Dubreuillosaurus's world:

• Europe was an archipelago of islands
• Shallow, warm tropical seas
• Mangrove-like coastal environments
• Rich marine life near shores
• Very different from modern France!

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Why the Long, Low Skull?

Scientists Debate

Possible reasons:

• Fish-catching adaptation (like gharials)
• Reduced water resistance when striking
• Longer snout = greater reach
• Unique hunting style
• Or just a unique feature of this species

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The Juvenile Specimen

Only Part of the Story

• Known specimen was not fully grown
• About 5 meters long
• Adults may have reached 9 meters!
• Would have been a formidable predator
• Need more fossils to know for sure

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Cool Facts

• Has one of the longest, lowest skulls of any theropod!
• Named after a French family
• Lived in mangrove swamps along ancient coasts
• The known specimen was a teenager—not fully grown
• May have been a fish-eater like some modern crocodilians
• Found in beautiful Normandy, France
• Related to Megalosaurus—the first dinosaur ever named
• Helps us understand coastal dinosaur ecosystems

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Dubreuillosaurus was a unique coastal predator—a dinosaur that may have hunted fish and other prey along the ancient beaches of Jurassic France with its remarkably flattened skull!