A portrait sketch of Cryolophosaurus elliotti, a remarkable theropod from the Early Jurassic of Antarctica. Its remains were first discovered in the early 1990s in the Transantarctic Mountains. The holotype consists of the rear half of the skull and a partial skeleton. New material was discovered later. Cryolophosaurus is known for its tuft-shaped crest, positioned above the eyes perpendicular to the skull (rather than along it, as in other theropods with crests). This earned the animal the unofficial name "Elvisaurus" in honor of Elvis Presley, who sported a similar hairstyle. Cryolophosaurus was one of the largest theropods of its time, reaching a length of approximately 7 meters (23 ft) and weighing, by one estimate, 770 kg. Its femur has primitive features, but its skull shares similarities with tetanurans, leading to frequent changes in the dinosaur's classification. It is now considered a basal neotheropod, more advanced than coelophysoids.
Paint Tool Sai 2.0, 2025.