Acrocanthosaurus atokensis

Acrocanthosaurus Temporal range: Early Cretaceous Aptian to Albian, 116–110 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Mounted skeleton (NCSM 14345) at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Theropoda
Family:	†Carcharodontosauridae
Genus:	†Acrocanthosaurus Stovall & Langston, 1950
Species
†A. atokensis Stovall & Langston, 1950 (type)
Synonyms
"Acracanthus" Langston vide Czaplewski, Cifelli, & Langston, W.R., 1994 (nomen nudum)

Acrocanthosaurus (/ˌækroʊˌkænθəˈsɔːrəs/ ak-ro-KAN-thə-SAWR-əs; meaning "high-spined lizard") is a genus of theropod dinosaur that existed in what is now North America during the Aptian and early Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous. Like most dinosaur genera, Acrocanthosaurus contains only a single species, A. atokensis. Its fossil remains are found mainly in the U.S. states of Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming, although teeth attributed to Acrocanthosaurus have been found as far east as Maryland.

Acrocanthosaurus was a bipedal predator. As the name suggests, it is best known for the high neural spines on many of its vertebrae, which most likely supported a ridge of muscle over the animal's neck, back and hips.Acrocanthosaurus was one of the largest theropods, reaching 11.5 m (38 ft) in length, and weighing up to 6.2 tonnes (6.8 short tons). Large theropod footprints discovered in Texas may have been made by Acrocanthosaurus, although there is no direct association with skeletal remains.