Discover the Megalosaurus: Top 12 Fun Facts You Never Knew About This Prehistoric Giant

1. First Dino Bone Discovery

Before the T-Rex became the king of bling and pop-saurus reigned supreme, a misunderstood giant was baffling scientists and giving elephants serious identity crises: Enter Megalosaurus, whose massive femur was first discovered in 1676, sparking the beginning of dinosaur bone identification and ultimately crowning it as the first valid dinosaur genus in 1824, all thanks to the keen eye of William Buckland.
Source => blog.biodiversitylibrary.org

2. Megalosaurus, the Speed Demon

Who said dinosaurs couldn't have a need for speed? Megalosaurus, the Jurassic drag racer, left more than just a fossil record; it left some serious skid marks: Fossilized footprints in England show that this carnivorous dino could go from a leisurely 4 mph stroll to a breakneck 20 mph chase, all while switching its gait from an awkward, toes-turned-inward amble to a fearsome, clawed sprint aimed right at its next meal.
Source => cnn.com

Did you know the fierce Allosaurus had ziphodont teeth with serrated cutting edges, making it the ultimate slicing and dicing machine of the prehistoric world? Discover more about this incredible apex predator!

=> Fun Facts about Allosaurus

3. The Original Theropod Dinosaur

In a classic case of mistaken identity that would leave Sherlock Holmes shaking his head, the Megalosaurus — whose name means "great lizard" in Greek — turned out not to be a colossal scaly reptile but a dinosaur with an impressive pedigree: Megalosaurus was a theropod dinosaur that roamed southern England during the middle Jurassic period, and it's the first non-avian dinosaur ever named. While it's had more than 50 other species incorrectly lumped under its genus, today we know there's only one true Megalosaurus: Megalosaurus bucklandii. Fossils of this Jurassic juggernaut have been discovered in Oxfordshire, but with no complete skeleton found, it keeps its true size and build shrouded in mystery.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Dickens' Dino Fascination

Imagine old Charles Dickens strolling through London, his overcoat flapping like a T-Rex with a top hat, praying he wouldn't bump into a Megalosaurus on a casual afternoon walk: In his classic novel "Bleak House", Dickens expressed his fascination with the idea of encountering the mammoth Megalosaurus sauntering through the muddy streets of London. This not only shows the budding interest in dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures during his time, but also highlights the ever-growing influence of paleontology in the Victorian era - way before Jurassic Park could even roar onto the scene.
Source => blog.everythingdinosaur.com

5. Trailblazer of Dino Names

Breaking up with the giant lizards: Megalosaurus proved it was ready to move on and start a new life by becoming the first dinosaur to receive a scientific name, making it a trendsetter for all the other big reptiles who wanted to ditch the lizard label and join the exclusive Dinosauria club: Before everything went extinct, of course.
Source => kids.britannica.com

6. The Stay-at-Home Dinosaur

Before Instagram influencers and travel bloggers made wanderlust fashionable, there was the Megalosaurus - diligently not venturing beyond its charming homeland: This vacation-averse dinosaur, first identified by William Buckland in 1824, was primarily found in Oxfordshire, England, with some fossils discovered in France and Portugal, making it the earliest non-avian dinosaur genus on record.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Scavenger Lifestyle

This fierce carnivore was quite a "dine and dasher" – munching on leftovers like a college student raiding the fridge for last night's pizza: Megalosaurus may have been a scavenger in addition to being a predator, taking full advantage of any available feast, including the remains of other animals.
Source => enchantedlearning.com

8. The Prehistoric Pickpocket

You know how notorious pickpockets in old movies have those nimble fingers and swift hands? Megalosaurus was like the prehistoric version of that, except it didn't go for your wallet; it went straight for the flesh: This Jurassic beast had sharp, hook-like claws on its three fingers ideal for gripping onto prey and slashing at it, while its powerful limbs made it an adept and nimble predator, capable of effortlessly chasing down prey.
Source => were-back-a-dinosaurs-story.fandom.com

9. Megalosaurus' Identity Crisis

In a case of serious identity crisis, the Megalosaurus got caught up in a whirlwind of dinosaur drama: originally, over 50 species were clustered under its name, but now we know they're no more related than distant dino cousins. Ah, the perils of fame! Today, we use "megalosaur" to describe any large, carnivorous theropod dinosaur, while Megalosaurus itself chomps its way through a revised role in prehistoric taxonomy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Jurassic Footprint Found

Step aside, Bigfoot: there's a new giant in town, and this one's been stomping around since the Jurassic era! Straight from the land before time, this Megalosaurus-like dino made its mark with a massive 3-foot-long footprint, discovered on the British coast. Dating back to 166 million years ago, this colossal print suggests that our prehistoric friend was 8 to 9-feet-high at the hip, squatting down before standing up when it left its signature. Soon, this monstrous autograph will call a local museum home, safe from erosion or landslips.
Source => businessinsider.com

11. Cinematic Dinosaur History

Before Jurassic Park took us on a wild ride, there was a prehistoric beast frolicking about in jolly old England, scoring cinematic points with its dino-drama: Megalosaurus, the OG dinosaur, was the first non-avian dinosaur genus ever named by William Buckland in 1824, based on fossils discovered in Oxfordshire, making it a treasured piece of history for both paleontologists and dino-fanatics.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. Reptile Identity Confusion

Feeling snappish? Don't worry! Megalosaurus was a bit confused with its identity too: Originally mistaken for a crocodile, it turned out to be a theropod dinosaur that, although not quite kick-starting paleontology, played an important role in advancing our knowledge of prehistoric life and dinosaur evolution.
Source => smithsonianmag.com