Ceratosaurus nasicornis

The Ceratosaurus was a medium-sized theropod that lived approximately 150 to 145 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic period. It had a unique, toothless, and possibly horn-like structure on its snout, which may have been a display feature used for mating rituals or to establish dominance within its species. With a length of about 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 feet), it was relatively smaller than some of its contemporaries, like Allosaurus, but still a powerful predator. Its body was characterized by a long, muscular tail, a lightweight, aerodynamic build, and powerful hind legs, enabling it to run swiftly in pursuit of smaller prey. The Ceratosaurus had a relatively large head with sharp teeth in its jaws, making it capable of slicing through the flesh of its prey, which likely included fish, small dinosaurs, and possibly scavenged carcasses. Fossils suggest that it lived in what is now North America and parts of Europe, thriving in diverse ecosystems ranging from coastal areas to floodplains.