Page 106 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

Early theropods

The age of dinosaurs as Coelophysis, it was twice as
Liliensternus

Although Liliensternus had
the same slender, agile build

long and much more powerful.
Big muscles linking the
dinosaur’s legs to the base of
its heavy tail added to its
The flared, bony crest may power and speed.
have been brightly colored to
make the dinosaur look more
impressive to mates and rivals.

Cryolophosaurus

Cryolophosaurus
was the first

theropod to be
Massive thigh muscles made
discovered in the hind legs very strong, giving
Antarctica. Cryolophosaurus the speed it
needed to catch its prey.

Coelophysis

Theropods ran on three
The slender head toes, leaving distinctive
and flexible neck were three-toed footprints that are
adapted for seizing small, often found fossilized in rocks.
fast-moving animals.

The most powerful, terrifying dinosaurs evolving into many different types throughout
were those that hunted other dinosaurs. the Mesozoic Era (also known as the age of
These predators were theropods—animals dinosaurs), and are still thriving today in the form
that ran on two legs, balancing their bodies and of birds. The first theropods evolved in the late
typically heavy, strong-jawed skulls with the help Triassic Period, about 230 million years ago, and
104 of their long tails. They were very successful, were small, lightly built animals. They soon

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