Species:  Cryolophosaurus Ellioti

Length:  19-23 feet

Weight:  1,025 pounds

Time Period:  Early Jurassic (Second Age of Dinosaurs)

Location of Discovery:  Hanson Formation, Antarctica

As far as Saurian dinosaurs go, Cryolophosarus was generally standard.  A primitive Allosaurid, Cryolophosaurus closely resembled its many relatives found around the world.  It was a dominant predator, both fast and powerful, though little is known about its specific hunting methods.  However, it has several features that make it unique, the most important being its native territory.  Cryolophosaurus was the first ever Saurian dinosaur discovered in Antarctica.  Scientists were not surprised when it was first discovered, but were instead pleased that their predictions were correct.  Computerized plate tectonics simulators had led scientists to believe that Antarctica was once much further north, and the fossils of coniferous forests and diverse wildlife found alongside Cryolophosaurus confirmed that an environment much like the modern taiga existed there during the Jurassic.  Additionally, Cryolophosaurus had a large head crest unlike anything any of its relatives possessed.  Paleontologists generally consider this a display feature designed for communication within the species, but this is far from certain.  Cryolophosaurs gained recognition for being the first fossil dinosaur found in Antarctica, but it was far from the last.  Recent discoveries have revealed that a diverse ecosystem of dinosaurs existed in Antarctica both during the time of Cryolophosaurus and long after it.