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Noasaurids
Noasauridae is an extinct family of theropod dinosaurs belonging to the group Ceratosauria. They were closely related to the short-armed abelisaurids, although most noasaurids had much more traditional body types generally similar to other theropods. Their heads, on the other hand, had unusual adaptations depending on the subfamily. 'Traditional' noasaurids, sometimes grouped in the subfamily Noasaurinae, had sharp teeth which splayed outwards from a downturned lower jaw. The most complete and well-known example of these kinds of noasaurids was '' Masiakasaurus knopfleri'' from Madagascar. Another group, Elaphrosaurinae, has also been placed within Noasauridae by some studies. Elaphrosaurines developed toothless jaws and herbivorous diets, at least as adults. The most complete and well known elaphrosaurine was '' Limusaurus inextricabilis''. At least some noasaurids had pneumatised cervical vertebrae.Arthur Souza Brum, Elaine Batista Machado, Diogenes de Almeida Campos & Alexa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Noasaurus
''Noasaurus'' ("Northwestern Argentina lizard") is a genus of Ceratosauria, ceratosaurian theropod dinosaur from the Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) of Argentina. The Type species, type and only species is ''N. leali''. The fragmentary holotype specimen of ''Noasaurus'', PVL 4061, consisting of a few cranial and postcranial bones, was discovered from strata from the Lecho Formation of Southern Salta in 1975 by a team lead by José Fernando Bonaparte. When described by Bonaparte and in PhD student Jaime Powell in 1980, it was believed to be a Coelurosauria, coelurosaur theropod and assigned to a Family (biology), family of its own; this family, Noasauridae, still exists, though has been reassigned to Ceratosauria. ''Noasaurus'' was a fairly small theropod, with PVL 4061 measuring somewhere between in length. Initially, it was believed that two strongly curved Ungual, unguals (claws) found alongside the holotype were evidence of raptorial foot claws, like those of Dromaeosauridae, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Afromimus
''Afromimus'' (meaning "Africa mimic") is a genus of ceratosaurian theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger. It contains a single species, ''A. tenerensis'', named in 2017 by Paul Sereno from parts of the right leg, vertebrae, and ribs found in the Ténéré Desert. It was originally described as a genus of ornithomimosaurian, but subsequent arguments have placed it as a taxon within or close to the superfamily Abelisauroidea. Discovery and naming The only known specimen of ''Afromimus'' is a partial skeleton consisting of seven (originating from the middle of the tail and estimated to be the 15th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, and 27th tail vertebrae), bones from the right hindlimb (the , , , and ), and part of a rib, all found within a radius of . It was discovered in 1997 at the Gadoufaoua locality in the Elrhaz Formation, in the Ténéré Desert of Niger. The specimen is catalogued as MNBH GAD112 in the Musée National Boubou Hama, the natio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ceratosauria
Ceratosaurs are members of the clade Ceratosauria, a group of dinosaurs defined as all theropods sharing a more recent common ancestor with '' Ceratosaurus'' than with birds. The oldest known ceratosaur, '' Saltriovenator'', dates to the earliest part of the Jurassic, around 199 million years ago. Ceratosauria includes three major clades: Ceratosauridae, Noasauridae, and Abelisauridae, found primarily (though not exclusively) in the Southern Hemisphere. Originally, Ceratosauria included the above dinosaurs plus the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Coelophysoidea and Dilophosauridae, implying a much earlier divergence of ceratosaurs from other theropods. However, most recent studies have shown that coelophysoids and dilophosaurids do not form a natural group with other ceratosaurs, and are excluded from this group. Ceratosauria derives its names from the type species, '' Ceratosaurus nasicornis'', described by O.C. Marsh in 1884. A moderately large predator from the Late Jura ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elaphrosaurus
''Elaphrosaurus'' ( ) is a genus of ceratosaurian Theropoda, theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 154 to 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic, Late Jurassic Period in what is now Tanzania in Africa. ''Elaphrosaurus'' was a medium-sized but lightly built member of the group that could grow up to long. Morphologically, this dinosaur is significant in two ways. Firstly, it has a relatively long body but is very shallow-chested for a theropod of its size. Secondly, it has very short hindlimbs in comparison with its body. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this genus is likely a ceratosaur. Earlier suggestions that it is a late surviving coelophysoid have been examined but generally dismissed. ''Elaphrosaurus'' is currently believed to be a very close relative of ''Limusaurus'', an unusual beaked ceratosaurian which may have been either herbivorous or omnivorous. Discovery The type specimen of ''Elaphrosaurus bambergi'' HMN Gr.S. 38–44 was recovered in the Middl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masiakasaurus Knopfleri Skull Reconstruction
''Masiakasaurus'' is a genus of small predatory noasaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. In Malagasy, ''masiaka'' means "vicious"; thus, the genus name means "vicious lizard". The type species, ''Masiakasaurus knopfleri'', was named after the musician Mark Knopfler, whose music inspired the expedition crew. It was named in 2001 by Scott D. Sampson, ''Matthew Carrano'', and Catherine A. Forster. Unlike most theropods, the front teeth of ''M. knopfleri'' projected forward instead of straight down. This unique dentition suggests that they had a specialized diet, perhaps including fish and other small prey. Other bones of the skeleton indicate that ''Masiakasaurus'' were bipedal, with much shorter forelimbs than hindlimbs. ''M. knopfleri'' was a small theropod, reaching long and weighing . ''Masiakasaurus'' lived from 72.1 to 66 million years ago, along with animals such as ''Majungasaurus'', ''Rapetosaurus'', and ''Rahonavis''. ''Masiakasaurus'' was a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kiyacursor
''Kiyacursor'' (meaning "Kiya (river), Kiya River runner") is an extinct genus of noasaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Ilek Formation of Russia. The genus contains a Monotypic taxon, single species, ''K. longipes'', known from a partial skeleton. ''Kiyacursor'' represents the first Early Cretaceous ceratosaur discovered in Asia, as well as the second non-avian theropod named from Russia, after ''Kileskus'' in 2010. Discovery and naming The ''Kiyacursor'' holotype specimen, Kuzbass State Museum of Local Lore, KOKM 5542, was discovered in the summer of 2023 in sediments of the Ilek Formation (Shestakovo 1 locality) by the Kiya (river), Kiya River in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. The specimen consists of an incomplete skeleton, including Cervical vertebrae, cervical and caudal vertebrae, cervical and dorsal ribs, a left scapulocoracoid, humeri, and much of both Joint, articulated hind limbs. A partial cervical vertebra, Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abelisauridae
Abelisauridae (meaning "Abel's lizards") is a family (or clade) of ceratosaurian theropod dinosaurs. Abelisaurids thrived during the Cretaceous period, on the ancient southern supercontinent of Gondwana, and today their fossil remains are found on the modern continents of Africa and South America, as well as on the Indian subcontinent and the island of Madagascar. Isolated teeth were found in the Late Jurassic of Portugal, and the Late Cretaceous genera '' Tarascosaurus'', '' Arcovenator'' and '' Caletodraco'' have been described in France. Abelisaurids possibly first appeared during the Jurassic period based on fossil records, and some genera survived until the end of the Mesozoic era, around . Like most theropods, abelisaurids were carnivorous bipeds. They were characterized by stocky hind limbs and extensive ornamentation of the skull bones, with grooves and pits. In many abelisaurids, such as ''Carnotaurus'', the forelimbs are vestigial, the skull is shorter, and bony cres ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Velocisaurus
''Velocisaurus'' ("swift lizard") is a genus of noasaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of Argentina. Description ''Velocisaurus'' was probably around long, based on a tibia length of . This makes it the smallest noasaurid, after ''Berthasaura''. The foot is unique in that the middle (third) metatarsal has become the main weight-bearing element. Its upper end has thickened whereas the shafts of the adjoining second and fourth metatarsals have thinned considerably. Such a configuration is unknown for other theropods, including birds. Bonaparte explained it as an adaptation for a cursorial (running) lifestyle. The high speed would have been necessary to escape larger theropods; Bonaparte suggested that ''Velocisaurus'' was itself an omnivore, as indicated by the fact that the sole claw found, of the fourth toe, was not trenchant but relatively straight. ''Velocisaurus'' can be characterized by several traits unknown in other Abelisauroids. These include: * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masiakasaurus
''Masiakasaurus'' is a genus of small predatory noasaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. In Malagasy, ''masiaka'' means "vicious"; thus, the genus name means "vicious lizard". The type species, ''Masiakasaurus knopfleri'', was named after the musician Mark Knopfler, whose music inspired the expedition crew. It was named in 2001 by Scott D. Sampson, ''Matthew Carrano'', and Catherine A. Forster. Unlike most theropods, the front teeth of ''M. knopfleri'' projected forward instead of straight down. This unique dentition suggests that they had a specialized diet, perhaps including fish and other small prey. Other bones of the skeleton indicate that ''Masiakasaurus'' were bipedal, with much shorter forelimbs than hindlimbs. ''M. knopfleri'' was a small theropod, reaching long and weighing . ''Masiakasaurus'' lived from 72.1 to 66 million years ago, along with animals such as '' Majungasaurus'', '' Rapetosaurus'', and ''Rahonavis''. ''Masiakasaurus'' was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laevisuchus
''Laevisuchus'' (, "light crocodile") is a genus of Theropoda, theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous. Its remains were discovered by Charles Alfred Matley near Jabalpur in Maastrichtian "Carnosaur Bed" deposits in the Lameta Formation in Madhya Pradesh, central India, and were named and described by paleontologists Friedrich von Huene and Matley in 1933. The type species is ''Laevisuchus indicus''. The generic name is derived from Latin ''laevis'', "light" and the Greek name for the Ancient Egyptian deities, ancient Egyptian crocodile god, ''Suchos, Soukhos''. The specific name (zoology), specific name means "Indian" in Latin. It is known only from three cervical vertebrae (GSI K20/613, GSI K20/614, and GSI K27/696) and a dorsal vertebra (GSI K27/588). A holotype was not assigned by Huene and Matley, and a lectotype has never been chosen from the syntypes. All remains except GSI K27/696 were lost, though GSI K20/613 was rediscovered in 2012. A 2024 revision of the small-bod ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Limusaurus
''Limusaurus'' is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now China during the Late Jurassic, around 161 to 157 million years ago. The type and only species ''Limusaurus inextricabilis'' was described in 2009 from specimens found in the Shishugou Formation, Upper Shishugou Formation in the Junggar Basin of China. The genus name consists of the Latin words for "mud" and "lizard", and the species name means "impossible to extricate", both referring to these specimens possibly dying after being mired. ''Limusaurus'' was a small, slender animal, about in length and in weight, which had a long neck and legs but very small forelimbs (with reduced first and fourth fingers). It underwent a drastic morphology (biology), morphological transformation as it aged: while juveniles were toothed, these teeth were completely lost and replaced by a beak with age. Several of these features were convergently similar to the later ornithomimid theropods as well as the earlier non ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masiakasaurus Knopfleri
''Masiakasaurus'' is a genus of small predatory noasaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. In Malagasy, ''masiaka'' means "vicious"; thus, the genus name means "vicious lizard". The type species, ''Masiakasaurus knopfleri'', was named after the musician Mark Knopfler, whose music inspired the expedition crew. It was named in 2001 by Scott D. Sampson, ''Matthew Carrano'', and Catherine A. Forster. Unlike most theropods, the front teeth of ''M. knopfleri'' projected forward instead of straight down. This unique dentition suggests that they had a specialized diet, perhaps including fish and other small prey. Other bones of the skeleton indicate that ''Masiakasaurus'' were bipedal, with much shorter forelimbs than hindlimbs. ''M. knopfleri'' was a small theropod, reaching long and weighing . ''Masiakasaurus'' lived from 72.1 to 66 million years ago, along with animals such as ''Majungasaurus'', ''Rapetosaurus'', and ''Rahonavis''. ''Masiakasaurus'' was a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
