"KIDS HOME STUDY DINOSAURS Irritator

Irritator

Irritator

Irritator chalengeri

  • Pronounced:   Ear - ih - tay - tor
  • Diet:   Carnivore(meat-eater)
  • Name Means:   "Irritation"
  • Length:   26 ft. (8 m)
  • Height:   9 ft. (3 m)
  • Weight:   unknown
  • Time:   Early Cretaceous - 110 million years ago
Location : S. America

Irritator was an early member of the spinosaur family, which included the JP3 villain Spinosaurus  It was a large meat-eater that had a small crest on its head. It received its unusual name because amateur fossil hunters modified the original fossil skull and didn't do a very good job. With all of the extra effort that was required to undo the damage, the professional scientists working on the project wanted to create a name befitting all of their hard work and the frustration that came with it.

Irritator is known from a mostly complete skull. It is important for two reasons: It was the first Early Cretaceous dinosaur found in Brazil, and it was the first South American maniraptorian found without bird-like features. The head crest is believed to have been a muscle attachment for neck muscles. Like its other family members, it is believed that Irritator hunted and ate fish regularly.