For #TheSummerOfTheropods, I’ll be introducing our first “controversial” theropod, #Saurophaganax, the “lord of lizard eaters”, a large allosauroid dinosaur from the Morrison Formation of the Late Jurassic of Oklahoma. Art by Hellraptor Studios

The reason why I say it’s controversial is that some paleontologists think Saurophaganax may actually be a larger specimen of Allosaurus. Saurophaganax from @SamNobleMuseum. Allosaurus from @SDNHM.

Most publications have accepted Saurophaganax as a distinct genus, but there are some that still think it may be a larger Allosaurus. New possible material of Saurophaganax from New Mexico may confirm the status of the theropod. @NMMNHS @NMMNHS_Paleo

The maximum size of Saurophaganax has been estimated to be from 34 to 43 ft in length with an approximate weight of 3.3 to 5 tons.

Saurophaganax was one of the largest carnivores of Late Jurassic North America, bigger than Torvosaurus, Allosaurus, and Ceratosaurus, but rarer in terms of recovered material. Art by @JCTArtStudio.

The Morrison Formation that Saurophaganax lived in consisted of a variety of large sauropod dinosaurs, the aforementioned theropods, ornithischian dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus and Camptosaurus, as well as lizards and amphibians. Images by Paleoguy.

Saurophaganax is also the official state fossil of Oklahoma, and a large skeleton of Saurophaganax can be seen in the Jurassic hall in the @SamNobleMuseum, which I had the pleasure of seeing on a field trip organized by @Cimexomys. Image credit to @SV_POW.