TheropodaTetanuraeIVPP V84019

Monolophosaurus jiangi

Monolophosaurus jiangi skeletal reconstruction, left lateral view, reconstructed length ~5 m.
Scale bar = 1 meter
Taxon
Monolophosaurus jiangi Zhao & Currie, 1993
Specimen
IVPP V84019
Reconstructed length
~5 m (16 feet)
View
Left lateral
Drawing
© Scott Hartman
Drawn
2015, revised 2026
Clade
  1. Theropoda
  2. Tetanurae

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Monolophosaurus was a tetanuran theropod from the Middle to Late Jurassic of China. It was distinguished by a single, tall bony crest running along the midline of its skull. The crest was hollow, likely serving a display function, and inspired its name, which translates as “single crest reptile.”

The evidence

What the specimen actually preserves

Known skeletal material of Monolophosaurus jiangi: preserved elements shown in white against a black body silhouette.
Known material of IVPP V84019: elements preserved in the specimen are shown in white; unpreserved regions are left as black silhouette. Drawn 2003, revised 2026