It lived about 150 million years ago, roaming parts of western North America and Africa in search of prey. Though not nearly as large as its close relative Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus was quite a fearsome killer. These teeth pointed backwards so that huge pieces of meat could be forced down into Allosaurus' hungry mouth. Allosaurus had short but strong front claws, and four large claws on each of its back feet, three of which helped to carry its weight. These claws also enabled Allosaurus to hold down and tear at its prey.
Scientists disagree about the hunting habits of Allosaurus.
Some believe that the dinosaur was too large and clumsy to be a very effective hunter, while others argue that Allosaurus was quite agile and hunted down plant-eating dinosaurs in small packs. The first airline passengers were carried not by aircraft with wings but in giant gas-filled airships built in Germany. In 1910 the huge Zeppelin airship Deutschland II took the first of more than 35,000 passengers between Berlin and other cities. These airships flourished until 1937 when the Hindenburg, at the end of a flight from Germany, exploded in flames while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. The fiery disaster, captured on film and shown in newsreels around the world, ended the career of the airship as an airliner.