Dilophosaurus skeletons reveal a lightly built, double-crested theropod, one of the earliest large predators of North America. The first Dilophosaurus skeletons were discovered in northern Arizona in the 1940s, with three notable specimens found in 1940 and collected in 1942. Dilophosaurus measured about 7 meters (23 feet) in length and weighed around 400 kg (880 lb), making it the largest known land animal in North America during the Early Jurassic. Its skeleton is slender and lightly built, with a proportionally large but delicate skull. The skull features a pair of longitudinal, arched crests, likely covered in keratin in life, which may have been used for display or species recognition rather than combat. The upper jaw has a distinctive kink below the nostril, and the cervical vertebrae shows complex laminae patterns, indicating structural adaptations for predation. This skeletal piece is made of polyresin and stands firmly on a circular mound with a felt lined underside. Dimensions 17 in x 8 in.
