Types of Dinosaurs.
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Alectrosaurus

Mounted Stegosaurus skeleton with rows of back plates and tail spikes
Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pronunciation
ah-LEK-truh-SAWR-us
Name means
Unmarried Lizard
Diet
Carnivore
Posture
Bipedal
Period
Late Cretaceous
Length
16 feet (4.9 meters)
Height
7 feet (2.1 meters)
Weight
less than 1,000 lbs (454 kg)

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Theropoda · Infraorder: Tetanurae · Family: Tyrannosauridae

A small tyrannosaurid whose teeth were short but very sharp. Its hind legs were slender, as opposed to its thick-thighed relatives. It is known from fragments found in Mongolia.

Close view of a tyrannosaur skull showing serrated teeth
Photo: WehaveaTrex, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

More Cretaceous-period dinosaurs →

Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Frequently asked questions

What does Alectrosaurus mean?

The name Alectrosaurus means “Unmarried Lizard”. It is pronounced ah-LEK-truh-SAWR-us.

When did Alectrosaurus live?

Alectrosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Was Alectrosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Alectrosaurus was a carnivore.

How big was Alectrosaurus?

Alectrosaurus was about 16 feet (4.9 meters) long, around 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall, weighing up to less than 1,000 lbs (454 kg).

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the Tyrannosauridae family.

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