Editing Allosaurus (section)

==="Big Al" and "Big Al II"===
[[File:Big Al Allosaurus.jpg|left|thumb|"Big Al" ''A. jimmadseni'' skeleton at the [[Museum of the Rockies]]]]
In [[1991 in paleontology|1991]], "Big Al" ([[Museum of the Rockies|MOR]] 693), a 95%&nbsp;complete, partially articulated specimen of ''Allosaurus'' was discovered, measuring about {{convert|8|m}} long. MOR 693 was excavated near [[Shell, Wyoming]], by a joint [[Museum of the Rockies]] and [[University of Wyoming Geological Museum]] team.<ref name=BBbigal>{{cite web|last=Breithaupt |first=Brent H. |url=http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/paleontology/pub/fossil_conference_6/breithaupt.htm |title=The case of "Big Al" the ''Allosaurus'': a study in paleodetective partnerships |access-date=October 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107103137/http://nature.nps.gov/geology/paleontology/pub/fossil_conference_6/breithaupt.htm |archive-date=January 7, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This skeleton was discovered by a Swiss team, led by Kirby Siber. Chure and Loewen in [[2020 in paleontology|2020]] identified the individual as a representative of the species ''A. jimmadseni''. In [[1996 in paleontology|1996]], the same team discovered a second ''Allosaurus'', "Big Al II". This specimen, the best preserved skeleton of its kind to date, is also referred to ''A. jimmadseni''.<ref name=DJC20/>

The completeness, preservation, and scientific importance of this skeleton gave "Big Al" its name. The individual itself was below the average size for ''Allosaurus fragilis'',<ref name=BBbigal/> as it was a subadult estimated at only 87%&nbsp;grown.<ref name=RRH02>{{cite journal |last=Hanna |first=Rebecca R. |year=2002 |title=Multiple injury and infection in a sub-adult theropod dinosaur (''Allosaurus fragilis'') with comparisons to allosaur pathology in the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry Collection |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=76–90 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0076:MIAIIA]2.0.CO;2 |issn=0272-4634|title-link=Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry |s2cid=85654858 }}</ref> The specimen was described by Breithaupt in 1996.<ref name=BB96/> Nineteen of its bones were broken or showed signs of serious infection, which may have contributed to "Big Al's" death. [[Paleopathology|Pathologic]] bones included five ribs, five vertebrae, and four bones of the feet. Several of its damaged bones showed signs of [[osteomyelitis]], a severe bone infection. A particular problem for the living animal was infection and trauma to the right foot that probably affected movement and may have also predisposed the other foot to injury because of a change in gait. "Big Al" had an infection on the first phalanx on the third toe that was afflicted by an [[involucrum]]. The infection was long-lived, perhaps up to six months.<ref name=RRH02/><ref>{{Cite journal |journal=PaleorXiv |last=Wilkin |first=Jack |date=November 24, 2019 |title=Review of Pathologies on MOR 693: An Allosaurus from the Late Jurassic of Wyoming and Implications for Understanding Allosaur Immune Systems |url=https://osf.io/f3rh6 |doi=10.31233/osf.io/f3rh6|s2cid=242466868 }}</ref> "Big Al II" is also known to have multiple injuries.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Foth | first1 = C. | last2 = Evers | first2 = S. | last3 = Pabst | first3 = B. | last4 = Mateus | first4 = O. | last5 = Flisch | first5 = A. | last6 = Patthey | first6 = M. | last7 = Rauhut | first7 = O. W. M. | year = 2015 | title = New insights into the lifestyle of ''Allosaurus'' (Dinosauria: Theropoda) based on another specimen with multiple pathologies | journal = PeerJ | volume = 3 | page = e824v1 | doi=10.7717/peerj.940| pmid = 26020001 | pmc = 4435507 | doi-access = free }}</ref>