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Dilophosaurus
U.S. private land + docsEarly Jurassic theropod from the American Southwest. Far rarer in trade than Hell Creek or Kem Kem teeth — scarcity invites mislabels and casts.
Sample photoPeriod
Early Jurassic
Age
~193 mya
Formation
Kayenta (U.S. Southwest)
Diet
Carnivore
Common fossils
Rare teeth / bone on private land when documented
Price context
Scarce — verify every claim; movie fame ≠ market supply
Price bands are educational market context for common grades — not an appraisal, quote, or investment forecast.
Collecting status
U.S. private land + docs. Always confirm landowner release or export path, chain of custody, and that the specimen was not collected from forbidden public land. U.S. federal vertebrates under PRPA are not commercial inventory.
Open related fossil-law guide →Trade notes
Treat species ID as a claim needing photos and a preparator / seller rationale. Land type still rules legality.
How to evaluate this taxon
Because genuine diagnostic material is scarce, the first task is to test the identification rather than negotiate price. Request locality and formation evidence, diagnostic photographs, measurements, and the preparator's reasoning. Movie-inspired anatomy, a generic theropod tooth, or a cast should not be upgraded by the name on a seller's label.
Fake-watch for this taxon
- — Movie-scale “frill” fantasies (not real anatomy)
- — Mislabeled other early theropod teeth
- — Casts
Documents to demand
- — Formation evidence
- — Landowner release
- — ID rationale
Research sources and limits
Taxonomy and age context are checked against museum or government references. Buyer guidance is Jurassic Depot editorial analysis, not a specimen identification, authentication, appraisal, or legal opinion. A taxon page cannot establish the identity or lawful title of an item offered for sale.
- Natural History Museum — Dilophosaurus directory entry
- National Park Service — fossil protection
- Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (official PDF)
Editorial review: August 1, 2026. Scientific classifications and laws can change; use the linked source and transaction-specific professional advice.
On Jurassic Depot
Fossil laws by countryU.S. fossil lawsProvenance guideFossil laws briefingHow to buy fossils legally
Outside sources (educational)
Primary society and government pages — not Jurassic Depot. Open these when you need statute or agency language, not a marketplace summary.