Ceratosauridae

† Ceratosauridae was the family of ceratosaurian theropods anchored by the genus Ceratosaurus, a nasal-horned predator of the Late Jurassic. Ceratosaurids were medium-to-large bipedal carnivores with distinctive cranial horns or crests. Material attributed to the family has been reported from Uruguay and other Gondwanan localities, in addition to the well-known North American and European records, suggesting broad geographic distribution during the Jurassic. As Gondwana diversified, ceratosaurids gave rise to the more derived abelisaurids.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Ceratosauridae 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

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Ceratosauridae lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161.5 to 145.0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.