Staurikosaurus

Skeletal reconstruction of Staurikosurus pricei.

• Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil ( Upper Santa Maria Formation)

• Staurikosaurus pricei

Staurikosaurus is a genus original dinosaurs from the group Herrerasauridae. Fossils are from the Santa Maria Formation of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil ) and are dated to the early Late Triassic ( Carnian ).

Staurikosaurus and other representatives of Herrerasauridae are among the oldest and most authentic ( basalsten ) known dinosaurs, most researchers consider them very basal representatives of the Saurischia (lizard dinosaur Beck ). Only species described is Staurikosaurus pricei. The name Staurikosaurus ( gr staurikos - " a cross ", sauros - "lizard ") means cross - the - South - lizard and refers to the constellation which Brazil has included in its flag.

Staurikosaurus is known only by a single, incompletely preserved skeleton. The skull, the front legs, and the lower parts of the hind legs missing, the lower jaw is, however, survived. The spine is almost completely preserved. It is believed that Staurikosaurus its significantly larger relatives resembled Herrerasaurus in his habit. The first description was in 1970 by Edwin Harris Colbert.

Description

Staurikosaurus was a medium-sized, bipedal running predator. The body length is estimated by a recent study on 2.20 to 2.25 meters, with the tail makes up 60 percent. The lower jaw is almost as long as the femur, indicating a disproportionately large head. The legs were long and slender. In the lower jaw were 13 or 14 teeth.