Staurikosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids StaurikosaurusTemporal range: Upper Triassic, 225 mya
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†Staurikosaurus
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Staurikosaurus is a genus of Upper Triassic theropod dinosaurs found in Brazil. It was a small, lightly built carnivore.
The rarity of Staurikosaurus remains may be a result of it being uncommon while alive, or because it lived in an environment such as a forest, where fossils rarely form.
Contents
Description
At just 2.25 metres (7.4 ft), 80 centimetres tall (31 in), and weighing just 30 kilograms (66 lb), Staurikosaurus was tiny in comparison to later theropods like Megalosaurus. Staurikosaurus and the related Herrerasaurus are definitely theropods and evolved after the sauropod line had split from the theropods.
The fossil record of Staurikosaurus is poor, but the skeletal structure of the legs is known. Staurikosaurus was a quick runner for its size. It also had just two vertebrae joining the pelvis to the spine, a distinctly primitive arrangement.
The available teeth for Staurikosaurus strongly suggest a carnivorous diet.
Tail
The tail of Staurikosaurus was relatively long (with more than 40 vertebrae) compared to the rest of its body and was held straight and off the ground as it ran. The rear part of Staurikosaurus's tail is stiffened by features of the tail vertebrae. Ostrom thought this was a dynamic stabilizer to help balance while leaping and running.
Images for kids
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Size comparison between Staurikosaurus and a human
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Paleoart of Staurikosaurus.
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Reconstructed skeleton showing known remains in white, and unknown in gray
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Restored skeleton
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Restoration of Staurikosaurus pricei
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Femur and tibia holotype of Teyuwasu barberenai (BSPG AS XXV 53).
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Staurikosaurus with a rhynchosaur
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Staurikosaurus and rhynchosaur at Canela, Brazil
See also
In Spanish: Staurikosaurus pricei para niños
