Jurassic
Torvosaurus
Torvosaurus tanneri
The catalogue presents Torvosaurus as a carnivore member of Megalosauridae that lived during the Jurassic, between 153.0–148.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 9.0–11.0 m in length and 2.0–3.0 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Torvosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Galton and Jensen (1979).
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 Callovian to the Tithonian.
The PBDB catalogues 7 occurrences, with material from the Morrison Formation (7). Provenance: United States.
The catalogue records the holotype as BYU 2002 and the type locality as “Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA”.
- BYU 2002
- Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA
The catalogue's reference measurements are 9.0–11.0 m in length and 2.0–3.0 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 9.0-11.0 m
- 2.0-3.0 tons
The record gathers 50 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
- 9.0–11.0 m
- Weight
- 2.0–3.0 t
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 153.0–148.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1979
- Described by
- Jensen & Stadtman
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Megalosauridae
- Genus
- Torvosaurus
- Species
- T. tanneri
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
- BYU 2002
- Type locality
- Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA