Aviatyrannis jurassica

† Aviatyrannis jurassica was a Late Jurassic coelurosaurian theropod from the Alcobaça Formation of Portugal, proposed as one of the oldest tyrannosauroid dinosaurs. This small carnivore is known from a partial ilium and suggests that the lineage leading to the iconic Cretaceous tyrannosaurs had already originated in Europe by the Kimmeridgian age.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Aviatyrannis jurassica was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Aviatyrannis jurassica 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.