EXPLORING DINOSAUR NEUROPALEOBIOLOGY - VIEWPOINT COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY SCANNING AND ANALYSIS OF AN ALLOSAURUS-FRAGILIS ENDOCAST

The unique opportunity to examine an exceptionally well-preserved natu ral endocranial cast (endocast) from a carnivorous dinosaur of the lat e Jurassic period, Allosaurus fragilis, was afforded this neurobiologi st. The endocast exhibits numerous surface features including the comp lete vestibular apparatus. Spiral computed tomography scanning reveale d multiple internal features including putative blood vessels, connect ive tissue-like arrays, and a prominent symmetrical density consistent with the putative brain or its cast. The evidence suggests that this organism's neurobiology resembled closely that of modern crocodylian s pecies and should be included for consideration when examining ideas o f Allosaurus evolution, behavior, and eventual extinction.