在1923年,休尼(Friedrich von Huene)將發現於英格蘭多塞特郡的部份骨骼(編號UMO J12143),命名為斑龍的一種(Megalosaurus nethercombensis)。這個遺骸發現於侏羅紀中期(阿連階至巴裘階)地層,包括部份的齒骨、背椎及尾椎、部份右恥骨、股骨的內側、以及脛骨,有可能是屬於同一幼年個體的。休尼認為牠是斑龍中較為原始的物種[1]。
由於大龍的化石很稀少,而且是碎片、屬於幼年個體,所以並不清楚牠們的生活方式及行為模式。牠有可能是雙足、中等身型的肉食性恐龍。最相似的動物是美扭椎龍、迪布勒伊洛龍(Dubreuillosaurus)及非洲獵龍[8]。葛瑞格利·保羅(Gregory S. Paul)在比較大龍與其他獸腳亞目後,粗略估計大龍的模式種約有175公斤重及4米長[9]。
參考
^von Huene, F. Carnivorous Saurischia in Europe since the Triassic. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. 1923, 34: 449–458.
^von Huene, F. The carnivorous Saurischia in the Jura and Cretaceous formations, principally in Europe. Revista del Museo de La Plata. 1926, 29: 35–167.
^Lydekker, R. Catalogue of the Fossil Reptilia and Amphibia in the British Museum (Natural History). Part I. Containing the Orders Ornithosauria, Crocodilia, Dinosauria, Squamata, Rhynchocephalia, and Proterosauria. London: British Museum (Natural History). 1888: 309 p.
^von Huene, F. Die fossile Reptil-Ordnung Saurischia, ihte Entwicklung und Geschichte. Monographien zur Geologie und Palaeontologie. 1932, 1 (4): 361 p.
^Waldman, M. Megalosaurids from the Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of Dorset. Palaeontology. 1974, 17 (2): 325–339.
^Molnar, R.E., Kurzanov, S.M., and Dong, Z. Carnosauria. Weishampel, D.B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H. (eds.) (编). The Dinosauria. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. 1990: p. 169–209. ISBN 978-0-520-06727-1. 引文格式1维护:冗余文本 (link)
^ 7.07.1Rauhut, O.W.M. The Interrelationships and Evolution of Basal Theropod Dinosaurs. Special Papers in Palaeontology 69. London: The Palaeontological Association. 2003: 213 p.
^ 8.08.18.28.38.4Holtz Jr., T.R., Molnar, R.E., and Currie, P.J. Basal Tetanurae. Weishampel, D.B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H. (eds.) (编). The Dinosauria second edition. Berkeley: University of California Press. 2004: p. 71–110. ISBN 978-0-520-24209-8. 引文格式1维护:冗余文本 (link)
^Benson, R.B.J. A description of Megalosaurus bucklandii (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Bathonian of the UK and the relationships of Middle Jurassic theropods. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2010, 158 (4): 882–935. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00569.x.
^Benson, Roger B. J., 2010, "The osteology of Magnosaurus nethercombensis (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of the United Kingdom and a re-examination of the oldest records of tetanurans", Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 8(1): 131-146
^Carrano, M.T., and Sampson, S.D. A review of coelophysoids (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Jurassic of Europe, with comments on the late history of the Coelophysoidea. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Monatshefte. 2004, 2004 (9): 537–558.