 |
Aucasaurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Infraorder: Ceratosauria
Family: Abelisauridae
Subfamily: Carnotaurinae
Genus: Aucasaurus
Coria, Chiappe, Dingus, 2002
Species
A. garridoi
|
Aucasaurus was a medium-sized Argentinian theropod dinosaur of the Santonian stage. It was around 4 m (13 ft) long and 1 m (3 ft) high at the hip, weighing around 700 kg (1,500 lb); considerably smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although the arms were longer. It is the smallest known carnotaurine.
The type skeleton is complete to the thirteenth caudal vertebra, and so is relatively well understood, and is the most complete abelisaurid yet described. However, the skull is damaged, causing some paleontologists to speculate that it was involved in a fight shortly prior to death.
|
|
 |
