在1923年,休尼(Friedrich von Huene)将发现于英格兰多塞特郡的部分骨骼(编号UMO J12143),命名为斑龙的一种(Megalosaurus nethercombensis)。这个遗骸发现于侏罗纪中期(阿连阶至巴裘阶)地层,包括部分的齿骨、背椎及尾椎、部分右耻骨、股骨的内侧、以及胫骨,有可能是属于同一幼年个体的。休尼认为牠是斑龙中较为原始的物种[1]。
由于大龙的化石很稀少,而且是碎片、属于幼年个体,所以并不清楚牠们的生活方式及行为模式。牠有可能是双足、中等身型的肉食性恐龙。最相似的动物是美扭椎龙、迪布勒伊洛龙(Dubreuillosaurus)及非洲猎龙[8]。葛瑞格利·保罗(Gregory S. Paul)在比较大龙与其他兽脚亚目后,粗略估计大龙的模式种约有175公斤重及4米长[9]。
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.
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)
Rauhut, O.W.M. The Interrelationships and Evolution of Basal Theropod Dinosaurs. Special Papers in Palaeontology 69. London: The Palaeontological Association. 2003: 213 p.
Holtz 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.