It was one of the largest theropods of the Early Jurassic, with the subadult being estimated to have reached 6–7 metres (20–23 ft) long and weighed 350–465 kilograms (772–1,025 lb).

The femur possesses many primitive characteristics that have classified Cryolophosaurus as a dilophosaurid or a neotheropod outside of Dilophosauridae and Averostra, whereas the skull has many advanced features, leading the genus to be considered a tetanuran, an abelisaurid, a ceratosaur and even an allosaurid.

Cryolophosaurus originally was collected during the 1990–91 austral summer on Mount Kirkpatrick in the Beardmore Glacier region of the Transantarctic Mountains.

[4] In 1991, both Hammer and the Ohio State University geologist David Elliot excavated separate outcrops near Beardmore Glacier, sharing logistical expenses.

Elliot's team first came across the remains of Cryolophosaurus in a rock formation around the altitude of 4,000 m (13,000 ft) high and about 640 km (400 mi) from the South Pole.

"[13] The crest is an extension of the skull bones, near the tear ducts, fused on either side to orbital horns which rise from the eye sockets.

The endocast features clarified the dissimilarity of the skull with those of Allosauroids and Coelurosaurs giving Cryolophosaurus a basal position in Theropoda.

[24] Kevin Padian et al. (2004) challenged conventional hypotheses that the purpose of bizarre cranial structures and post-cranial armor in dinosaurs, was either for attracting mates, intimidating/fighting rivals in the group, or intimidating potential predators of other species.

[25][26] Thomas R. Holtz Jr. (2010) found that the bizarre crest of Cryolophosaurus was primarily for intra-species recognition, based on evidence from related species and studies of bone texture.

[27] According to Thomas Rich and his colleagues, the crest would have been ineffective as a weapon and may have possibly functioned as a display feature during certain types of social behavior such as mating.

[18] Hammer also concluded that a post-canine tooth belonging to a tritylodont (an early mammal relative), found with the remains, was part of its stomach contents when it died.

[31] The Hanson Formation accumulated in a rift environment located between c. 60 and 70S, fringing the East Antarctic Craton behind the active Panthalassan margin of southern Gondwana, being dominated by two types of facies: "tuffaceous" siltstone of fluvial and volcanic strata, deposited maybe more than 10 million years based on the thickness.

[32] In the Early Jurassic, Antarctica was closer to the equator and the world was considerably warmer than today, but the climate was still cool temperate similar to that of modern southern Chile, and humid, with a temperature interval of 17–18 degrees.

[35][36] Beyond vertebrates, Insects (Blattodea, Coleoptera), Ostracodans, Conchostracans and arthropod ichnofossils (Diplichnites, Planolites, Scoyenia) are know from other coeval localities, like Gair Mesa, Mount Carson or Shafer Peak.

[38] Macrofoliar and cuticle remains have also been recovered from several localities, including Conifers (Araucariaceae, Cheirolepidiaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae or Voltziales), Cycadophytes (Bennettitales), Pteridosperms (Corystospermaceae), Ferns (Dipteridaceae, Matoniaceae, Osmundaceae and Polypodiales), Equisetaceae, Isoetaceae and Liverworts (Marchantiales).

[39] Overall points to a setting with strong seasonality in day-length given the high latitude, perhaps similar to warm-temperate, frost-free forest and open woodland as in North Island of New Zealand.

Despite the proper conditions, peat accumulation was rare, mostly due to the influence of local volcanism, with common wildfire activity as shown by charred coalified plant remains.