Saurophaganax

Saurophaganax is a genus of large, predatory theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 million years ago. It is known from the fossil remains found in the Two Medicine Formation of Montana, USA. Saurophaganax is notable for its large size, with some estimates suggesting it could have reached lengths of up to 12 meters (39 feet) and weighed over 5 metric tons (5.5 short tons).

The genus was first described by paleontologist Jack Horner and his colleagues in 1987. The type species, Saurophaganax maximus, is based on a nearly complete skeleton found in the Two Medicine Formation. The name Saurophaganax comes from the Greek words "sauros," meaning lizard, "phagein," meaning to devour, and "anax," meaning lord, reflecting the dinosaur's size and predatory nature.

Saurophaganax is characterized by several distinctive features, including a long, low skull with a deep, U-shaped snout filled with conical teeth. Its arms are relatively short, and its hands are three-fingered, with the middle finger being the longest. The dinosaur's legs are robust, with powerful hind limbs adapted for running and chasing prey. Saurophaganax likely had a bipedal posture, with its body supported by its two hind legs.

The diet of Saurophaganax is thought to have consisted primarily of large herbivorous dinosaurs, such as hadrosaurs and ceratopsians. Its size and powerful jaws would have made it a formidable predator, capable of taking down even the largest prey. Saurophaganax is an important fossil find, providing valuable insights into the ecology and evolution of Late Cretaceous ecosystems.