Jurassic
Metriacanthosaurus
Metriacanthosaurus parkeri
The catalogue presents Metriacanthosaurus as a carnivore member of Metriacanthosauridae that lived during the Jurassic, between 161.5–157.3 Ma. Its estimated range is 8.0–9.0 m in length and 1.0–1.5 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Oxford Clay Formation, England. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Metriacanthosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Walker (1964).
The PBDB places it in Metriacanthosaurinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Metriacanthosauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Metriacanthosauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range is the Oxfordian.
The PBDB catalogues 1 occurrence, with material from the Oxford Clay Formation (1). Provenance: United Kingdom.
The catalogue records the holotype as OUM J12144 and the type locality as “Oxford Clay Formation, England”.
- OUM J12144
- Oxford Clay Formation, England
The catalogue's reference measurements are 8.0–9.0 m in length and 1.0–1.5 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 8.0-9.0 m
- 1.0-1.5 tons
The record gathers 15 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
- 8.0–9.0 m
- Weight
- 1.0–1.5 t
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 161.5–157.3 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1923
- Described by
- Friedrich von Huene
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Metriacanthosauridae
- Genus
- Metriacanthosaurus
- Species
- p. parkeri
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
- OUM J12144
- Type locality
- Oxford Clay Formation, England