| Acrocanthosaurus was a large and terrifying meat eater about 40 ft (12m) long. Several skeletons of this animal were found around 1950. some other skeletons from the same are of Oklahoma, were named saurophagus ('' reptile-eater ''), but they may in fact be more specimens of Acrocanthosaurus. The 12 in. (30cm) spines on the backbone of this animal may suggest that it had a raised ridge or small sail along its back, similar to that of Spinosaurus. The sail may have been used to show to what species the animal belonged, or might have been like the colorful feathers of many birds a signal to tell rivals to keep away, or to attract mates. It might even have acted as a type of '' solar-panel,'' allowing the animal to control its own body tempeature |
