Dubreuillosaurus is a genus of carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 169-164 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in France, and the only named species is Dubreuillosaurus valesdunensis. Initially, it was classified as a species of Poekilopleuron, but later on, it was renamed Dubreuillosaurus.
Although the fossils of Dubreuillosaurus are incomplete, scientists have been able to learn a lot about this dinosaur. It is believed to have been a large theropod, but its exact size is unknown. Dubreuillosaurus had a partial skull and partial skeletons, which have been used to study its features, diet, and classification. Its unique characteristics, such as the medioventrally directed femoral head and the convex anterior surface of the distal end of the femur, make it distinct from other dinosaurs in the Spinosauroidea group.
Discovery and Naming
First Discovery
Dubreuillosaurus is a genus of carnivorous dinosaur that lived in the middle Jurassic Period. The first discovery of Dubreuillosaurus fossils was made in 1994 by the mayor of Conteville in Normandy, André Dubreuil. While rehabilitating the old quarry of Pierre de Caen, dinosaur bones had surfaced. Dubreuil secured a partial skull and some ribs and notified the Paris Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. The fossils were later studied and identified as belonging to a new genus and species of megalosaurid theropod, Dubreuillosaurus valesdunensis.
Etymology
The genus name Dubreuillosaurus was named in honor of André Dubreuil, who discovered the fossils. The species name valesdunensis refers to the Valesdunes Formation, where the fossils were found. The fossils of Dubreuillosaurus were originally described as a species of Poekilopleuron, Poekilopleuron? valesdunensis, which is still formally the type species of the genus. However, further studies revealed that Dubreuillosaurus is a distinct genus and species of megalosaurid theropod.
Classification
Taxonomy
Dubreuillosaurus is a genus of carnivorous dinosaur from the middle Jurassic Period. It was first described by Ronan Allain in 2005, and the only named species is Dubreuillosaurus valesdunensis. The fossils of this species were originally described as a species of Poekilopleuron, Poekilopleuron? valesdunensis, which is still formally the type species of the genus. Dubreuillosaurus belongs to the family Megalosauridae, which includes a number of other carnivorous theropod dinosaurs.
Phylogeny
Dubreuillosaurus is classified under the clade Eustreptospondylinae, which is a group of megalosauroids that includes genera such as Eustreptospondylus and Magnosaurus. Some studies have suggested that Dubreuillosaurus is closely related to Afrovenator, a megalosaurid from Africa. Dubreuillosaurus is also thought to be related to other European megalosaurids, such as Torvosaurus and Magnosaurus.
Based on the available fossil evidence, Dubreuillosaurus was a medium-sized theropod dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic Period, around 160 million years ago. Its fossils were found in France, and it is known from a partial skeleton that includes the skull, teeth, vertebrae, and limb bones. Although relatively little is known about the biology and behavior of Dubreuillosaurus, it is thought to have been a fast-moving predator that hunted small to medium-sized prey.
Description
Dubreuillosaurus was a medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the middle Jurassic period. It had a slender build and long, powerful hind legs that allowed it to move quickly and easily through its environment. Dubreuillosaurus had sharp, curved teeth and strong jaws that were adapted for hunting and killing other dinosaurs.
General Anatomy
Dubreuillosaurus was a megalosaurid theropod that closely resembled Eustreptospondylus. It measured around 5 meters (16 ft) long and weighed 250 kilograms (550 lb). It had a long, narrow skull with large eye sockets and a row of sharp teeth. Dubreuillosaurus had a long, slender neck and a powerful tail that helped it maintain balance while running.
Distinctive Features
One of the most distinctive features of Dubreuillosaurus was its long, slender hind legs. These legs were adapted for running and allowed Dubreuillosaurus to chase down prey with ease. Dubreuillosaurus also had sharp, curved teeth that were ideal for tearing flesh and crushing bones. Its jaws were powerful and could exert a great deal of force, making it a formidable predator.
Paleobiology
Diet
Dubreuillosaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 169-164 million years ago. Based on its skull and teeth morphology, it is believed that Dubreuillosaurus was a predator that fed on other dinosaurs and possibly other prey such as fish. Its sharp teeth and powerful jaws suggest that it was a formidable predator, capable of taking down large prey.
Habitat
Dubreuillosaurus fossils have been found in France, indicating that it lived in what is now Europe during the Jurassic period. It is believed that Dubreuillosaurus inhabited a variety of environments, including forests and open plains. Its large size and carnivorous diet suggest that it was at the top of the food chain in its ecosystem.
Overall, Dubreuillosaurus was a large and powerful predator that lived during the Late Jurassic period. Its sharp teeth and powerful jaws suggest that it was a formidable predator, capable of taking down large prey. Its fossils provide important insights into the ecology and evolution of dinosaurs during the Jurassic period.
Paleoecology
Contemporary Fauna
Dubreuillosaurus lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 160 million years ago, in what is now France. It shared its environment with other dinosaurs such as the sauropods Cetiosaurus and Lapparentosaurus, the stegosaur Dacentrurus, and the theropod Poekilopleuron. Other creatures that inhabited the same region include crocodiles, turtles, and small mammals.
Environmental Conditions
The Late Jurassic period was characterized by a warm, humid climate with seasonal monsoons. The area where Dubreuillosaurus lived was a coastal plain with a mix of forests, swamps, and lagoons. The sediments in which Dubreuillosaurus fossils were found suggest that the area was periodically flooded by rivers and subject to occasional storms. The abundance of aquatic creatures in the region suggests that there were also large bodies of water nearby.
Research and Studies
Notable Findings
Dubreuillosaurus is a genus of carnivorous dinosaur from the middle Jurassic Period. Its fossils were found in France. The only named species, Dubreuillosaurus valesdunensis, was originally described as a species of Poekilopleuron, Poekilopleuron? valesdunensis, which is still formally the type species of the genus. Partial skull and partial skeletons of Dubreuillosaurus have been found, but not enough to work out its overall size, although it was a large dinosaur.
Some features of Dubreuillosaurus are unique among Spinosauroidea, including the medioventrally directed femoral head and the convex anterior surface of the distal end of the femur. Recent research indicates an explosive radiation of tetanurans in the latest Early to Middle Jurassic. A marked depression is present on the dorsal.
Ongoing Research
The osteology of the postcranial skeleton of the holotype of Dubreuillosaurus valesdunensis from the Middle Jurassic Calcaires de Caen Formation is described in a study. In addition to previous phylogenetic analyses, characters of the caudal vertebrae show that Dubreuillosaurus is distinct from Poekilopleuron. Further research is ongoing to determine the exact size and other characteristics of this dinosaur.