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Key Information

Herrerasaurus

Species Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis
Diet Carnivore
Length 20 ft
Height 5 to 6 ft
Weight 770 lb
Timescale Late Triassic
Classification Chordata > Dinosauria (?) > Saurischia (?)

Learning Point

  • There are features of Herrerasaurus that have confused many palaeontologists, including hip bones that have characteristics of dromaeosaurs, as well as bigger carnosaurs. It also has vertebrae that are similar to Allosaurus. All of these are animals that appear later in the history of dinosaurs.

Project

  • Draw a picture of Herrerasaurus in the Triassic environment.
  • Overview
  • X-Ray
Herrersaurus running
Fred Wierum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Herrerasaurus Skeleton
Oscar Alcober, Ricardo Martinez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Location

Confirmed Argentina, South America

Fun Facts

  • The name Herrerasaurus comes from Greek words meaning “Herrera’s lizard“, named after the rancher who discovered the first fossil.
  • Herrerasaurus lived at a time when there were few larger dinosaurs.
  • There have been many different ideas of the category of dinosaurs that it should be placed in.
  • It has a number of traits that are viewed as advanced for its time in history.

Past Lessons

99 August 21, 2023 (North America)
No Past Lessons

Upcoming Lessons

No Upcoming Lessons