Eoabelisaurus

genus of reptiles (fossil)

Eoabelisaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic period of what is now South America. It was a bipedal carnivore that probably reached 6.5 metres (21 ft) in length.[1]

Eoabelisaurus
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic
~163 Ma
Eoabelisaurus holotype fossil, Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Family: Abelisauridae
Genus: Eoabelisaurus
Pol & Rauhut, 2012
Species:
E. mefi
Binomial name
Eoabelisaurus mefi
Pol & Rauhut, 2012

The discovery, which is fairly recent, is important because of its relative completeness. It is the earliest known member of the family Abelisauridae.

References change

  1. Pol, Diego & Rauhut, Oliver W.M. 2012. A Middle Jurassic abelisaurid from Patagonia and the early diversification of theropod dinosaurs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. [1]