Dryptosaurus aquilunguis

†Dryptosaurus aquilunguis ('eagle-clawed tearing lizard') is the type species of Dryptosaurus, from the Late Cretaceous of New Jersey. Named for its large hooked manual claws, this eastern North American theropod was one of the first large dinosaurs described from the continent. Its eastern Laramidian occurrence documents a distinct dinosaur fauna east of the seaway from the better-known western assemblages.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Dryptosaurus aquilunguis was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Dryptosaurus aquilunguis lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100,5 to 66,0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.