Jurassic
Megalosaurus
Megalosaurus bucklandii
The catalogue presents Megalosaurus as a carnivore member of Megalosauridae that lived during the Jurassic, between 168.2–165.3 Ma. Its estimated range is 6.0–9.0 m in length and 700 kg-1.4 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Stonesfield Slate, Taynton Limestone Formation, Oxfordshire, England. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Megalosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Parkinson (1822).
The PBDB places it in Megalosaurinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Megalosauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Megalosauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Rhaetian to the Maastrichtian.
The PBDB catalogues 10 occurrences, with material from the Sharp's Hill Formation (1), from the Forest Marble Formation (1) and from the Cotswold Slate Formation (1). Provenance: United Kingdom.
The catalogue records the holotype as OUMNH J13505 and the type locality as “Stonesfield Slate, Taynton Limestone Formation, Oxfordshire, England”.
- OUMNH J13505
- Stonesfield Slate, Taynton Limestone Formation, Oxfordshire, England
The catalogue's reference measurements are 6.0–9.0 m in length and 700 kg-1.4 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 6.0-9.0 m
- 700 kg-1.4 tons
The record gathers 163 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 6.0–9.0 m
- Weight
- 700 kg-1.4 t
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 168.2–165.3 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1824
- Described by
- William Buckland
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Megalosauridae
- Genus
- Megalosaurus
- Species
- M. bucklandii
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- OUMNH J13505
- Type locality
- Stonesfield Slate, Taynton Limestone Formation, Oxfordshire, England